by Justin Morton
Recently, the airwaves were flooded with people talking about the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and praising our President for his help in negotiating the agreement. And while that is certainly worth talking about, there was something else our President said in the aftermath of his visit that caught my attention.
While answering questions on Air Force One, the President was asked if helping with the agreement would get him to heaven. The President said, “I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven”. He went on to say, “I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven”.
The President of the United States made those comments for all the world to hear. For the last several days I have been thinking about that statement. If one of the most powerful men in the world feels this way, then you know there are many others who do not hold such powerful positions who feel the exact same way. They go throughout their daily lives thinking there is no hope of eternal life for them. Perhaps we even have friends or family who feel this way.
To all those who may feel hopeless, the Bible promises JESUS CAN SAVE YOU! While God is a God of justice, He is also a God who delights in forgiveness, not punishment. Micah the prophet said, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love” (Micah 7:18). God delights in steadfast love or mercy. Mercy is what God is willing to offer anyone who will repent of their sins and obey His will (Matthew 7:21).
God sent His son, Jesus, to shed His own precious blood, so every one of us can have forgiveness of our sins and hope of eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19). No one deserves to go to heaven. There is not a single person who is “good enough” to “earn heaven” based on their works (Ephesians 2:8-9). All of our righteous deeds are like “a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6).
“BUT GOD!” Those are two of the most beautiful words we read in our Bibles. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). No “good deed” is going to get anyone into heaven, but Jesus can.
If we know someone who thinks they have no chance of heaven, let’s share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. He can and will save anyone who submits to His will and obeys. Friends, no sin is too big for God’s grace. Jesus is enough to get “anyone” into heaven.