“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe God will bring with Jesus those who die in Him.”

Would you use your good deeds as justification?  Would you use your church membership or specific denomination?  Would you use your practicing the disciplines of worship, prayer or Bible study?  Would you use your baptism?

The truth is if you are counting on any of the above to reserve your place in heaven, you will be very disappointed.  My fear is that what happened to the five unprepared bridesmaids in this morning’s gospel reading will happen to you.

Let us look at this parable for a moment.

Unless you are familiar with the culture Jesus lived in, you might wonder why the 10 bridesmaids were waiting by the roadside. Common practice in those days was for the groom to go to the bride’s house for the ceremony; then the bride and groom, along with a great procession of people, returned to the groom’s house for the wedding feast which often lasted a week. People would line the streets in hopes of joining not just the procession but to take part in the wedding banquet.

Jesus was aware of this commonly known practice and used it to teach a truth about being prepared to enter the kingdom of heaven. He is the groom for whom we are waiting His return. When He will come is not known. Because we do not know the hour we have a choice, to be prepared or not to be. We see in the parable the consequences of each choice. Those who are prepared are enjoying the wedding banquet. Those who aren’t did not gain entrance.

How do you prepare? You prepare the same way you prepare to enter the kingdom of heaven. You believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

This is not something that I have decided. This is not something the church decided. It is what God decided.

This truth was confirmed by Jesus who said,

This truth was echoed by the apostles,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

The only way you can know today if you are going to heaven is to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

I know that as I say this a number of people are thinking but what about a really good person? What about someone who has never hurt anyone, who is always the first person to help someone in need, someone who acts like a better Christian than most church going Christians?

While I am certain God is pleased with the fact that they embrace Christ-like values, just as God is pleased with people who pray, worship and read His Word. We must remember these practices or disciplines are NOT the cause for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

What about those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ? What about the Muslims, the Buddhist, the Jews and all other people who pray God? Aren’t we all God’s children and aren’t we praying to the same God?

While an overwhelming majority of people and Christians have bought into the relative thinking of our culture that teaches that there is no absolute truth.  Let me remind you that this does not change God’s Word.

I realize we are called to be open minded and tolerant. However, the question of salvation is not one of those issues

The God of the Bible is a Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only Christians worship the Triune God.

Still people say God is cruel? Let me ask you, if I gave you the winning numbers to this week’s lottery, would I be cruel? God would be cruel if He did not provide a way for you and me a way to enter into a relationship with Him and to enter into eternal life. Thank God He provided us with Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life.