by Sharon Elliott in Leading Hearts Magazine
IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, ONE OF MY REASONS FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN IS GOING TO HEAVEN. Some years ago, the singer Evie sang a song with the lyric that said, “If heaven never was promised to me, neither God’s promise to live eternally, it’s been worth just having the Lord in my life.”
That’s true when I’m counting my blessings, but I have to be honest, heaven’s still a big part of the deal for me.
With that in mind, I take very seriously biblical warnings like that of Galatians 5:19-20 which lists the things that will hinder me from inheriting the kingdom of God.
Check out this foreboding list. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (NKJV).
With that in mind, I take very seriously biblical warnings like that of Galatians 5:19-20 which lists the things that will hinder me from inheriting the kingdom of God. Check out this foreboding list. “
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (NKJV).
You see, if we are exhibiting love, we will not murder, hate, or break up someone else’s home as adulterers. If we exhibit peace, we won’t stir up contentions, dissensions, or have outbursts of wrath. If we are long-suffering, we won’t rush forward in selfish ambition. If we’re kind, we won’t be envious or participate in starting or spreading heresies. If we live self-controlled lives, we won’t participate in drunkenness and revelries. You get the idea.
Each part of the fruit of the Spirit eradicates some part of the works of the flesh. Just as darkness and light cannot exist in the same place at the same time, we cannot exhibit both the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh. They are mutually exclusive. Living as spiritual fruit trees automatically eliminates participating in that which threatens to keep us from our inheritance of heaven.
Allow these passages to be your personal touchstone, for God goes on to say,
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:24- 26, NKJV).
Are you truly living as though heaven is actually coming?
If so, take seriously that God means what He says here. With His help, you can make the necessary changes. I’m keeping myself in check because heaven is my inheritance!
