The Bible says to ‘test yourselves’ and see whether you are in the faith. We don’t want to make it to the end of our lives only to find out we were deceiving ourselves – instead of an eternal welcome into Heaven, we’re– “cast into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Ask yourself these questions:
What do I crave?
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does– comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16
…Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4
What do I say?
…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 12:34
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:10?
What do I do?
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
More questions:
Do I spend time in prayer?…and in the Bible ? Do I seek to please the God of the Bible? Do I know or care about what pleases God? Do I love what God loves and hate what he hates? Do I tell others about Christ? Am I in a personal, growing relationship with God? Have I been born again?
Just believing in God won’t get you to Heaven.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. James 2:19
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew
you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matt 7:21-23
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3
…”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34-35
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Luke 6:46
Be honest before God. He knows your heart and sees your every thought. Many pretend to love God on Sunday, but fail to prove it by the way they live the rest of the week. Jesus wants to be first. He’ll have no other gods before Him.
KNOW THIS: God doesn’t want you to spend eternity in Hell; He wants a relationship with you that’s real; He wants to save you from your sins and give you eternal life. And He wants you to know that you can have the promise of Heaven.
It’s true–God loves everyone–completely and unconditionally; but he does not forgive everyone. To receive his forgiveness, you must come to God on His terms: He requires two things of you:
REPENT of your sins – once and for all. Turn away from sin and turn to God. Agree with God that you’ve sinned against Him. Apologize to God. Ask God to forgive you. He promises to do it!
TRUST alone in Jesus to save you–the way you’d trust in a parachute – completely! Don’t trust in your good works to save you. Heaven cannot be earned…it’s a free gift.
Then read your Bible every day and obey what you read.
