Question: I am a Christian but still make mistakes. Might God block me from entering heaven?
Answer: There is only one reason a person is not allowed to enter heaven: Never accepting Jesus’ gift to you of eternal life. During your earthly life, this is the only time you can make this choice.
If you have become a Christian, you accepted this free gift of life and love God offered you, to be forgiven of ALL the wrongs you’ve done. God forgave you because someone else was punished in your place. That someone was Jesus! His sacrificial death on a cross paid your bill. Then, because God could see your entire life at a glance, He forgave you of all sins or wrongdoing – past, present, and future! God sees your heart and recognizes that you are, hopefully, continuing to repent or turn away from wrong actions and thoughts. God doesn’t EVER take His gift of eternal life back because of your struggles in following the perfect examples set by His own Son, Jesus. When you made the decision to follow Jesus and enter the family of God, you began a lifelong path of transformation which the Spirit of God accomplishes for you. This Holy Spirit entered you and remains in you always, reminding you of what God desires and expects.
The Bible, God’s authoritative word, tells us that heaven has a roll book called “The Lamb’s Book of Life”. Jesus is called “The Lamb” because God allowed His blood to be shed as He died on the cross as the payment, or atonement, that made human beings right with God. Christians’ names are recorded in this book! Jesus called believers “overcomers” because we overcome sin in our lives by putting our faith in Him to guide, help, and save us. Even though we are called overcomers, He is the one who really does all the work on our behalf. We continue to ask for His help daily in making good decisions that please Him.
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white, and I will no not blot out his name from the Book of Life…” Revelation 3:5
In the original language, the Greek double negative “no not” puts great emphasis on the truth that a name is NEVER erased from the Book of Life. No bad behavior or mistakes ever gets you blocked or deleted! Becoming a Christian is PERMANENT. You belong to God’s family FOREVER!
“And I [Jesus] give them eternal life, and they shall never perish [in heaven] neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28-29
“All those that the Father gives to Me [Jesus] will come to Me, and the one who comes I will by no means cast out.” John 6:37
“…God has sealed us and given us the Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee [of being saved from hell for heaven] …” II Corinthians 1:21-22
“…the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption [until heaven].” Ephesians 4:30
“…you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance [of heaven] …” Ephesians 1:13-14
Isn’t the term “sealed” an enormous comfort? It means airtight, impervious, complete, finished, or final. In other words, safe from destruction, deletion, or erasure. The Bible is absolutely clear that God’s seal of ownership on a believer cannot be erased or changed.
Is your name written in this Lamb’s Book of Life? Don’t put it off! Don’t wait.
If you are ready to become part of God’s family, say this:
Dear Jesus,
I know that I have lived my life committing many wrongs. I am sorry for these sins, and I want to turn away from this terrible, downward spiral and begin over as clean and new. Thank you for dying on a cross so God will forgive me and allow me to live past this present life in such a wonderful place as heaven! I accept that you loved me so much that you were punished and died for me, and I know you are, at this very moment, sending your Spirit into me to help me become the person you want me to be. I am very thankful you were resurrected from the dead after dying on the cross and are fully alive now with God. I look forward to living forever, as you do. I trust you right now, Jesus, with everything and everyone in my life. I will follow you and talk with you from this day forward. Thank you! Amen.
