From what I can surmise, there are three major decisions we make that will determine how happy and successful we are in life. I’ll count them down backwards.
Number 3 is this: What will I do for a living?
If you can nail down this one while you’re still in high school, you’ll save yourself precious time and thousands of dollars instead of bouncing around from college major to major, looking like a loser and mooching off your parents. We all have to bring in the bucks; I mean eating and having shelter is a good thing. Plus, you’ll be able to work at something you’re interested in and will enjoy which will keep you from dreading the start of each day.
This brings us to Number 2: Who will I marry?
BELIEVE ME. This one is absolutely critical. The person you marry has the potential of making your life happy and secure or a living hell. You cannot count on your heart and hormones to determine this choice because they have absolutely NO commonsense whatsoever! LISTEN to the people who know you best; your parents, your brothers and sisters, your best friend or even another adult outside your family who has seen you grow up and can see the potential pitfalls your beloved poses to you.
These people love you and, far from wanting to ruin your life or hold you back, they truly want you out on your own, successful, happy and starting your own little family. If they are warning you they see red flags or they express concerns about your intended or about their family, LISTEN and seriously consider what they are telling you. Been there. Did not do that. Suffered horribly. Don’t be stupid!
This brings us to the single most important decision you will ever make. Every person who has ever lived on this earth has faced this. There is no avoiding it. There is no gray area. The answer is either yes or no. And ignoring it qualifies as a “no.” Wanna know what it is?
Number 1: Do you want to spend all of eternity in heaven or do you want to go your own way and take your chances?
Not sure about that last one? Maybe you’re thinking, “Hey, I’m a good person so I’ll go to heaven. After all, I try to live by the golden rule and be nice to people. “ Really? You sure about that? Because if you make the wrong choice on this one, there will most assuredly come a day when you’ll wish you’d never been born! Would you like to take a little test to make sure you really ARE a good enough person to go to heaven? Great! There is a free prize you can have at the end.
Here is what you need to keep in mind as you answer the questions: If you were hit by a bus this very day, and you knew you had to face a holy God who will judge every action and thought you’ve ever had, would He consider you good enough to enter those “pearly gates?”
Answer the following questions truthfully. It’s OK, because you’ll be the only one who will know your score. Give yourself a 0 for “yes” and a 1 for “no.” Let’s get started.
1. Has there ever been any person, thing, idea, dream or plan that has been more important to you than God Himself?
2. Have you ever had a possession, thing, person, pet or religious figure that you adored with your eyes or even prayed to?
3. Have you ever used any of God’s names as a swear word?
4. Do you regularly set aside one day a week to rest, play and worship God?
5. Have you ever cursed or hated your parents?
6. Have you ever been angry enough or hated anyone badly enough to imagine killing them, even though you would never actually do it?
7. Have you ever looked at anyone with lust, imagining yourself having sex with them, or have you ever actually committed adultery?
8. Have you ever stolen anything; even something little when you were a kid or maybe some office supplies from work?
9. Have you ever lied about someone or something?
10. Have you ever been jealous of what someone else had?
Okay, how did you do? Did you score a perfect 10? Maybe a 5 or 6? Tell you what. I’ll score myself as an example. That might make it clearer for you.
Hmmm. Well, I’ve definitely lied before, I mean who hasn’t, right? And I’ll have to cop to hating my parents, even bad enough to want to kill them a time or two; that’s a 2 for 1 right there. I’ll see if there’s anything else. Oh yeah, I have swiped some pens and a stapler from work before. Can’t deny that one!
So where do I stand? According to my score, I am a lying, murdering, parent hating, thief. So if I were hit by that bus today and had to stand before a perfect, holy God, there is NO way I would be a good enough person to get into heaven, would I? What do you think? Truth be told, I’ve done ALL of the things listed before in my lifetime and my score is a big, fat 0. How about you?
Can you see how being, “a good person” would not be enough to get past God? Freaky thing is, no one is good enough. No one could ever do enough good deeds, or give enough money to the poor, or feed enough kids in Africa, or go to church enough to become good enough for God. We aren’t capable.
I promised you a free prize for taking the test, but you have to decide whether or not you want it. And it’s only offered for a limited time. In God’s Word, Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” You see, every person ever born has been sinful. We can’t help it and we can’t fix it.
But God loves us…YOU, so much that His Son, Jesus, suffered our death penalty for us so we can be sinless and perfect in God’s eyes. And that is the ONLY way we’ll get into heaven. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father (God) BUT BY ME.”
There are not many paths to God, unlike the blather you’ve heard on Oprah. There is only one way, and that is Jesus. So, do you want the most incredible, most valuable prize you’ll ever get?? It’s easy.
Just tell God you understand you can never be good enough for Him, and you accept that Jesus died in your place. Ask Jesus to come into your heart so you can start living for Him. That’s all you have to do.
After you accept Christ, get yourself a Bible and start reading the first four books of the New Testament so you can get to know your Savior. Then find a good, Bible believing church and start going so you can get some solid teaching. If you have any questions, I would be so honored to help you. Just leave me a message on the site you saw this article on and I’ll get back in touch with you.
Remember the 3 most important decisions you’ll ever make. God offers you the best deal you’ll ever get. For heaven’s sake, make wise choices!