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Do you know where you’re going to spend eternity? Before you answer let me try to give you a glimpse of how long eternity actually is. I live in Leesburg, AL which is about 450 miles away from Gulf Shores, AL. If I were to take a spoon and crawl to Gulf Shores and get one spoonful of sand from the beach and then crawl back to Leesburg and dump it, and if I did this until I had moved every grain of sand from that beach to Leesburg I wouldn’t even begin to touch eternity! So don’t take this question too lightly. Eternity is way too long to be unsure where you will spend it.

My second question to you is do you need God? I would like for you to take a short test. This test will answer the questions, are you a good person according to God’s standards and if so are you good enough to go to heaven? Okay here we go.

1. Have you ever told a lie?

The Ninth Commandment is “you shall not lie.” Telling just one lie makes you a liar. Revelation 21:8 says, “…..all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire….”

2. Have you ever looked at someone and had lustful thoughts?

The Seventh Commandment is “you shall not commit adultery.” If you have ever looked at another person with lustful thoughts, according to God’s standards, that makes you an “adulterer.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “…..whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” In I Corinthians 6:9-10, God says that no adulterers “…..shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

3. Have you ever used “God”, “Jesus”, or “Christ” as a curse word?

The Third Commandment says “you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.” By using God’s name as a curse word, you have taken the name of God who gave you life and turned it into a “four-letter” word used to express disgust. This is called blasphemy. In Leviticus 24:16, God says, “he that blasphemes the name of the Lord, shall surely be put to death….”

4. Have you ever stolen anything (no matter how small)?

The Eighth Commandment says “you shall not steal.” Stealing just one thing, no matter how large or small, according to God’s standards, makes you a thief. In I Corinthians 6:10, God says, “no thieves……shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

5. Have you ever broken the first Commandment?

The First Commandment says “you shall have no other gods before me.” That means we should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The Bible tells us no one has kept this commandment (Psalm 14:2-3).

6. Have you given money to charity? Have you gone to church regularly? Have you made it a practice to read the Bible regularly?

Giving money, going to church, and reading the Bible are all good activities, but none of them impress God. The Bible says, “and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) That means that all of our “righteous acts” or “good deeds” can never make up for the fact that we’ve broken God’s Holy Commandments. Think of it like this. If a person was found guilty of murder, but he gave money to charity, does that make up for his crime? No. The person’s crime hasn’t been paid for. This “good deed” will mean nothing to the judge when he passes sentence. The murder must still be punished.

This test showed you how you stand when judged by just five of God’s Ten Commandments. So, if God judges you by that standard would you be innocent or guilty of breaking his Commandments?

Would you go to Heaven or Hell?

Does this concern you?

It should concern you. Do you know what God did so that you wouldn’t have to spend eternity in Hell?

Think of it this way. Imagine you’re in a courtroom again; you’re guilty of many serious crimes. The judge says, “It’s a fine of $500,000, or prison.” You don’t have anywhere near that amount of money, so the bailiff begins to walk you out of the courtroom when someone you don’t even know appears. He runs up to the judge with a check and says, “I’ve paid the fine for you.” Now that the fine has been paid, the law no longer has any hold on you. You’re free. Because of the gift you were given.

This is what God did for you by sending Jesus to die on the cross in your place. So that you wouldn’t have to go to Hell, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross – suffering the punishment that justice demands. Then He rose from the grave, forever defeating death! The Bible tell us, “For God so love the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) If you will repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus, God says he will forgive all your sins and grant you the gift of everlasting life. Just like the court case we just talked about, if you repent (meaning confess and turn from your sins) and put your trust in Jesus, then you will not have to suffer God’s justice in Hell because the payment for your crimes was made by Jesus on the cross.

If you’re not sure what to pray, read Psalm 51 and use it as a model. The words you pray are not what save you; it’s the attitude of your heart. There are no “magical” words. When you pray it should sound something like this, “Dear God, I repent of all my sins, such as (name your sins). I put my trust in Jesus Christ as Lord (to say Jesus is Lord means you are making Him master over your life) and Savior. Forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Now what do I do? Read your Bible, and obey and apply what you read. God will never let you down!

What should I read? I suggest the book of “John” and then “Romans.” Whatever you decide to read, read it everyday.

I would also suggest that you go to here and read the article entitled “Save Yourself Some Pain.” It will get you started on the right track. Just remember there is no substitute for the Bible.

Good luck and please let me know if I can help in any way.

God Bless.

Adam - adam@fourdayslatemusic.com