Grand entrances, you know how it goes. Celebrities love it. Politicians bask on it. Teenagers “in love” flow with it. Jesus promises a grand entrance as well when you get to heaven. St. Peter won’t be meeting you in heaven even though Jesus “gave” him the keys to the kingdom. No, Jesus will be there to tell you, “Welcome, good and faithful servant.”
Getting there is the issue though.
Look what 2 Peter 1:10-11 says: “So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
There is an effort to be done to get to the kingdom. Being a Christian is a serious matter. You are not born into Christianity. You are born again. You have to receive Jesus as your LORD and Savior. You need the Holy Spirit to sanctify you inside and out. You need to strive to be righteous and just. To be humble and loving. Who said being a follower of Jesus is easy?
Jesus did not have an easy time on earth. He suffered many things and made the ultimate sacrifice so that He may redeem us from our sins. That’s the truth! And the truth of the matter is, if we are to make it to heaven, we’ll have some form of suffering. Some would be tougher than others but that is how Jesus went through life. Why should it be different with us?
John 16:33 should be our perspective: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let me repeat, Jesus has overcome THE world! And when WE overcome we can expect a grand entrance in heaven with Jesus meeting us there. It does not get better than that.
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