This is the best thing you’ll ever do this side of eternity!
That’s right, Christian living is a day-to-day affair. After salvation, the word of God teaches us what God expects of us. Here’s 2nd Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
It’s God, through the Bible, lovingly directing our lives. Note the connecting words in the verse: teach — truth; Realize — wrong; Correct — wrong; Teach — right.
We certainly can’t get to heaven without truth. If you were to look around at the “Christian” offerings today, you would find many churches practicing different things. In all of that practice, the truth is missing to some degree or another.
If God teaches truth, then we ought to know and do what he says, and that’s only accomplished by adhering solely to scripture. Over the centuries, people have added things that the Bible does not teach. Again, it’s people who have seemingly ignored verses that get in the way of their doctrine. Then again, people have also altered the word to suit their own religious beliefs.
So, that brings us to the next verse, Matthew 10:39, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
So, the deal is, if you hold on to this world’s way of life, you won’t go to heaven. Right? Isn’t that what Jesus said, and isn’t heaven our utmost goal? However, Jesus directed us to give up our confusing worldly life for the spiritual life in Him. I want you to know that the spiritual life is the best life possible.
On this topic, Paul said this in Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” That’s the way Paul lived, and it is, of course, biblical (Godly) doctrine for us to do that, too. What happens when we don’t live this way? No life sacrifice, no heaven.
The word also teaches us what is wrong in our lives. If our acts and words are amiss of Jesus’ directions, then, once again, we’re not headed in the right direction. This applies to the unsaved and the saved. His word tells us how to clean up our mess. Blessed be the Lord!
God’s word also teaches us to do good. See Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3. Here’s a thought from Ephesians 4:21 — 23,
Eph 4:21 “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
Eph 4:22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
Eph 4:23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
It’s apparent God thinks we should do as He says. Phenomenal!
In fact, verse 17 of 2 Timothy 3 says that God uses verse 16 to prepare and equip us for doing good works.
Conclusively, if we truly want to go to heaven, we must follow the truth delivered by God.
Garland Van Dyke
garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com
Matthews St. church of Christ
1915 Matthews St., Bay City, TX. 77414