One of the most controversial current political issues involves our southern border. Over the last few years, many individuals have streamed into the US as controls were relaxed and wall construction halted.
The influx of aliens into this country has overwhelmed many border towns as well as immigration officials, and many rapists, murderers, and even terrorists have been discovered trying to enter the US. We should all pray for godly wisdom to handle this crisis.
There is a more urgent immigration situation, however, that we should all consider. Each of us will migrate from this life to the next at some point. That is a settled fact.
What isn’t settled, however, is where we will end up on the other side of life’s border. The Bible is clear that there are only two options and it also outlines the immigration requirements involved for each. We owe it to our eternities to examine these stipulations prior to our departure from the land of the living.
Since even a brief perusal of the conditions in both heaven and hell yields an obvious choice, we must consider the entry terms. Although the Bible tells us that God wants all to join Him in heaven, it also tells us that the entryway is narrow and few will find it.
There is no quota on daily or total entry, but there is serious vetting of all potential residents. For starters, no one contaminated by sin will be admitted. Thankfully, no unrepentant murderers or rapists will be in heaven, but neither will there be anyone tainted by pride, selfishness, or greed. While airports use metal detectors and checkpoints utilize drug dogs, God knows perfectly the soul of every applicant and will disqualify anyone who has died in their sins.
Entry to heaven is not based on good works. Many believe that if their good works outweigh their bad ones, entry is guaranteed. The Bible, however, tells us that our good deeds are like filthy rags before God. Even our best acts are contaminated by sinful motives. Anyone counting on their own merit to gain access to God’s heaven will be bitterly and eternally disappointed.
No one with an unrepentant heart will be allowed entry but only those who, while still living, recognized their corrupt condition, confessed their sins, and received the free gift of forgiveness Jesus died to give them. God keeps impeccable records in His Lamb’s Book of Life of who has truly done this.
Jesus stated in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Either Jesus was telling the truth or He was badly mistaken or intentionally lying, and either of the last two would disqualify Him as a great moral teacher. Without Jesus, no one will enter heaven. Neither Muhammad nor Buddha will get you there.
Although much of our nearly 2000 mile southern border is presently open, heaven has only one entry point and His name is Jesus. While some manage to wade the Rio Grande and others scale the wall to enter the US, God will allow no one to infiltrate heaven without Christ.
It doesn’t matter who your parents were, where their citizenship was, or what they did. It won’t matter how many degrees you had or how many humanitarian positions you held. Without Jesus, no one will get in.
Thankfully, all may enter through Jesus if we come with a repentant heart in faith believing. No one is excluded due to skin color, sex, age, income, disability, past sin, or intelligence. Whosoever will may come through Jesus.
As the southern border crisis continues, may it remind us of our emigration from this life into eternity and may we make the necessary arrangements now by receiving Jesus as Savior. There is only one way into heaven and eternity is a very long time to spend in hell.
Blessings, George