Where Will I go?
By avery sandiego, 6th Apr 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutFamilyReligion
The inconvenient truth about the concept of eternity. What is waiting for me in afterlife?
Concept of Eternity
This is my topic for today. Easter Sunday is approaching and I think this is a timely topic for me. I need to write an article about how not to be afraid of the concept of eternity. If you will ask me if I am not afraid, I am very much afraid when it comes to concept of eternity. Of course, thinking of death is frightening and right after that what will happen next?
I am quite confuse regarding this topic and sometimes I am not even sure of my salvation even if I am a Christian already. Others say once save, you are always save. However, to make sure every time there is an altar call to accept Jesus, I always come forward, how many times do I need to accept Jesus? Also there are teachings that says that salvation can also be lost.
The Bible says: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Hebrews 10:26. Now, I am sure that salvation can be lost if we keep sinning willfully.
Though, I think I really have a high chance to go to heaven because I am not really a bad person, I am completely harmless and been thinking of God since I am a kid. I am still entertaining thoughts that what I am doing for God is not enough. What is the exact requirements or standards of the Lord for me to have a place in heaven? I don't want to be surprised in the end where I thought I am really eligible to heaven but then I would discover it will be the opposite.
I have ask some people before the question, are Catholics saved? some say yes, one person say no. I am really confused. Others say, being a Christian does not always guarantee that you will be saved. I heard the judgement is heavier for people who call themselves Christians to those who are not.
I am really struggling in some aspects of my life. I am born in a Catholic religion. For 20 years I am Catholic, became a member of Legion of Mary, I sang in the choir, studied in a Catholic school.
However, as there seems to be a growth in the number of Christians more recently I have decided to leave Catholicism and was converted in year 2002. I was given a chance to work at a christian school, handle Bible School for kids, attend youth camps and youth conferences, join prayer ministry, exposed myself to deliverance ministries, attend Bible studies and more.
However many things happened in between and I decided I want to take a break for a while and for 1 year now I am a lukewarm Christian, not a backslider just lukewarm. I encountered some problems before and I admit I am not consistent anymore in going to church and my faith is flickering, shaky. I admit I am just a baby christian, I am not perfect, I have lots of issues I need to fix in myself and I feel unworthy to serve God for the moment.
Now, my real concern is how I can be sure that the Lord will accept me in heaven. What if I see a big sign in heaven "Access Denied, Do Not Enter" I am sure no one wants to go to hell, we do not want the door of heaven to close on us.
I have heard of people with NDE but I am not sure if they are telling the truth that they have been to heaven or hell and was able to get back to earth again. I am wondering how to be admitted in heaven. Is there a large database in heaven for people whose names are in the Book of Life? What if I am not included? I want to be sure that I am a candidate in heaven and not in hell.
If heaven is like a hotel, how can I booked myself and my family or reserved a space in advance? Or if I will be heaven, how about people I know like my friends and family members, how can I be so sure that they will not go there in hell? I will not be happy if I am just the one saved and those people I know will be suffering in hell.
I am also concern of what hell really is? I knew it is hot there, can I bring some electric fan there? I knew hell is real, other people believe it is real, some not, catholic believe in purgatory, but I think there is no middle, it is just heaven and hell.
But I also made a reflection that God is really merciful when He chose to humble down and died on the cross for us. It is humiliating but he did not mind it. I knew Jesus can skip that cross and skip that gruesome death but He did not. Like the parable of the lost sheep, the Lord will still look for that one lost sheep, leave the 99 sheep to find one lost sheep. I feel God would not let us go there, though He has a high standard, holy and perfect God, I knew He is merciful to accommodate us in heaven.
The verses that answered all my doubts I have found in the book of 2 Peter:
2 Peter Chapter 1: 5-11
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,
11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter Chapter 3:8-9
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
I also come to a reflection that God has always been watching us here on earth and He will do everything to save those He wants to save. He will use other people to reach out for us. I feel even if God is not seen, He is doing something to pick us one by one so that we will not be condemned and be saved. Here is the verses I found in the book of Psalm.
"But the Eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."
Psalm 33:18 NIV
"For The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
"The Eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
Proverbs 15:3 NKJV
Happy Easter to everyone!
Comments
7th Apr 2012 (#)
god bless wherever life takes us
thanks for sharing the bible quotes coz i alone won't find them by just reading
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
it took me one hour to find these verses..god bless too
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Great Easter reflections.
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Yes, thanks very much
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
A very thoughtful and sincere page, Avery. I will look out for you in Heaven because I am hoping to be there, and I am quite sure you will be there.
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
I also hope...Kita kits- I mean will see each other there someday
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Honestly, I am not afraid of dying as that is just the part and parcel of life, I know I have prepared my family in case something untoward should take place.
None the less, To be one with Eternity is to be one with God and that is what I feel every time I meditate.
None the less Easter is the time for a New Life and New beginning and one must accept the fact when there is life, there is always bound to be death of the body as that is never immortal, works, deeds and actions are.
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Yes Lady Aiyanna, Easter brings New life and New beginning to all of us.
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Beautiful, thank you avery...and happy Easter my friend....
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7th Apr 2012 (#)
Thank you, God Bless everyone!
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12th Apr 2012 (#)
It is quite difficult to know for sure as we can not know for positive sure until such time that we have the experience ourselves. I have (over the past few years) come to believe that most religious people are nutz. Spiritual people are not so nutz. I consider myself a blessed believer. I know that God exists and that someday he well grant me all knowledge; until that day I live as I believe He would live (at least to the best of my ability). I enjoyed reading this passage. Thank You for sharing.
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13th Apr 2012 (#)
I agree with every word you said, not sure about it, only at the precise moment. Honestly, I said it too that over religious people can turn nutz so need to balance everything, thanks
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14th Apr 2012 (#)
Great writing.
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17th Apr 2012 (#)
Thank you Denise Larkin!
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14th Apr 2012 (#)
I wish I had the opportunitu to sit down with you and help you smooth out those rough spots in your life. It appears that youe focus is on all the good works you have done and they will bring and maintain your salvation. This is one of the heretical teachings of the Catholic Church. Our salvation is received by God's Grace through faith in the work that Jesus did on the cross. goo d works play no part in the reception or maintaining salvation but they definitely a result of salvation. read (Ephesians 2:8-10)
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15th Apr 2012 (#)
thank you very much, Rev. George Pryor. This is what I heard faith without good works is dead. Good works without faith is dead also. it is faith + good works= salvation
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17th Apr 2012 (#)
I understand your uncertainty avery, I share it too. I don't go to church regularly, but I do believe, and I try to treat other people in a way i would like to be treated back. Maybe we create our own heaven and hell on earth.? Great thought provoking share.
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17th Apr 2012 (#)
Yes, mam Carol that is the right word-uncertainty, I am quite uncertain...like what you said we can make heaven and hell right here on earth so we will know for sure of where we will go..
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19th Apr 2012 (#)
our generations are up to the wisdom of the words of the bible our families woud say. Its all in the eye of the beholder. this is a phase to determine that part of the bible. for us to understand the true meaning. when our minds are ready to handle this part god will show one further of its meeanings
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