Who's Going to Heaven?

 This past week you may have heard the news that celebrities Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Ozzy Osborne, Hulk Hogan and Chuck Mangione all passed away. Now I didn't know any of them personally, so I don't really know what their relationship with Jesus was. I know it's reported that Malcolm-Jamal Warner spoke about his faith in Jesus. I know Ozzy Osborne called himself "The Prince of Darkness" for his rock persona, but again it's reported that he was a practicing member of the Church of England and prayed before each show. Who knew..?

I did hear Hulk Hogan speak very openly about his faith despite his past public scandals and how his faith got him through. And as far as Chuck Mangione, I've got no idea what his religious beliefs were. So what do I know for certain about each of their eternal destinations - Heaven or Hell? I can speculate - but that's not for me to decide. However, I can tell you this - all of them know for a fact - firsthand - that this life is not all there is!

And I'm afraid many people will be very surprised when they find out that reality. And even among those who do believe in an afterlife - there may be a bit of a shock when they discover their eternal destiny and just who or who's not with them.

I take no joy in this truth - but when they come to the end of their life…

I. Many will be surprised

I'm always amazed by how many people, rather than look to the Bible for theological answers, simply adopt their beliefs from movies and TV shows. They usually believe 'good people' go to Heaven and 'bad people' go to Hell. And depending on which shows you watch, 'good' can be a very relative term.

As far as "who is going to Heaven?" – I readily admit that Ido not have the authority to usher anyone into Heaven or condemn anyone to Hell. Therefore, let's start by looking at what Jesus said in Luke 13:23-24 (NIV)...

Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, (24) "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

Because this can be such an emotionally charged topic, I'm going to rely very heavily on many scripture passages this morning. There are a lot of scripture references there in your bulletin. I don't want this to simply come across as one man's opinion, but rather what does the Bible actually teach. The Bible is our authority – not Ron.

So let's go to scripture - the city of Corinth in Biblical times was not a 'very nice place'. Immorality ran rampant as evidenced by the practices at the temple of the goddess Aphrodite. There were over a thousand temple prostitutes who offered their bodies to those who came to 'worship' there. However, when the Church was started there – the Church flourished and grew despite all the 'garbage' that surrounded them.

The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Christians in the Church there in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)...

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Not everyone goes to Heaven when they die. But Paul also points out something vital here, it's not based solely on what you've done – but on one relationship with a specific person - Jesus! Let's look at Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

According to the Bible - there will be some people in Heaven who've done some very 'bad things', and there will be some people in Hell who have done some very 'good things'. Whether a person ends up in Heaven or Hell is based on their relationship with Jesus – not their past good or bad deeds.

We are saved by God's grace – but we're also to live like we're grateful that we've been saved by grace. And if we continue to look at what the Bible says about our eternal future, it doesn't seem to focus on our past – but on how we live once we experience grace, on whether or not we are found…

- Faithful

People followed Jesus everywhere He went and they were always asking Him about who would be going to Heaven – who would be saved. He told them this in Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV)...

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. (2) He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. (3) About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. (4) He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' (5) So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.

(6) About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' (7) 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' (8) When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

(9) The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. (10) So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. (11) When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. (12) 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'

(13) But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? (14) Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. (15) Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' (16) So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

We don't get to Heaven based on our good works or even how long we've followed Jesus, but it sure appears to have a lot to do with who is faithful – who finishes strong. 'Well, that doesn't seem quite fair.' Understand - God doesn't ask me or anyone one else who they think should enter Heaven. God decides. And God is a just, righteous God!

'Well, what about those who were faithful for years but then fall away? What about someone who was a genuine believer who just really messed up in the end? What about someone who never got a chance to hear about Jesus? What about people of other faiths, other religions? What about a person who commits suicide? What about this, or that…?'

'Do I have to be baptized to get to Heaven? Maybe the more important question is - 'The Bible says to respond to the Good News of God's grace by submitting to Jesus in baptism. So is there any good reason you don't want to be baptized...?

We have all sorts of questions and 'special circumstances' that we like to question or discuss. We have all sorts of opinions about who will go where and who won't. God decides and God doesn't make mistakes!

God knows the difference between one who's hurting and confused and one who's defiant, hard hearted or unrepentant. God is a loving, gracious, righteous and just judge who was willing to die on a cross Himself in the person of Jesus to provide a way for absolutely everyone to have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him! If He is going to go to such great lengths to reach down to all of us – He will make the right decision on who will enter Heaven or not.

Now, even as I say that – even among Christians, it may still raise the question in some…

II. "Am I going to Heaven?"

I was told once, from a genuine baptized believer who'd been serving in the Church for years say, "I'm just not sure I can be saved – there's a lot of bad things in my past and even now I still can't get it right."

The Apostle John would probably respond...

1 John 5:10-13 (NIV)

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. (11) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John sure writes confidently doesn't he? You don't think you deserve Heaven because of what you've done in your past? You're right. You don't. I don't. We don't deserve it - that's why salvation is a gift! That's why we all need God's grace! As I follow Jesus – am I going to Heaven?

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can know for sure that God loves us! But those nagging questions may still linger with some – 'Who is going to Heaven? Am I going to Heaven'?

III. How can I be sure?

That could spur a discussion longer than we have time this morning – but let's look at 1 John 4:15-18 (NIV)...

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. (16) And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (17) In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (18) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

How can anyone be sure? Focus on Jesus! Some debate about 'once saved always saved' and the question of 'eternal security'. 'Can a person fall away, or if they do were they ever really saved?' It's not really within our ability to fully answer those kinds of question, but our job is to focus on Jesus. We know this for a fact from Acts 4:12 (NIV)...

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

How can anyone be sure? Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, (2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Any security or hope at all has to focus on Jesus and what He tells us to do! I can't answer every particular question or specific circumstance about who's going to Heaven or not. But I will tell you – you focus on Jesus. AND, you focus on today.

How is your relationship with Jesus right now? Don't wait another day to make it right because not a single one of us knows how many more days we have. Chuck Mangione died at 84 years old and Malcom-Jarmal Warner was only 54. We just don't know. However - if every day, you focus first on Jesus – you won't have to worry whether Heaven is in your future or not.

Hebrews 6:11-12 (NIV)

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. (12) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

So What?

I guess I didn't specifically answer the question - 'who is going to Heaven?' I guess my best answer is those who have accepted the gift of grace through Jesus and allowed Him to wash their sins away. Beyond that...

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, (13) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

We do not work our way to Heaven – but it certainly seems like there has to be some effort on our part to accept God's free gift of grace. God made this offer of eternal life only through Jesus and asks us to be His ambassadors to those we meet. If you know the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior – don't keep it to yourself. Share it with your family and friends and whoever will listen!