gospel atricles

By William Alexander
SALISBURY POST
Recently, my 6-year old daughter asked me if all people go to heaven. I told her that those who loved and obey God can gain salvation and enter the realm of the heavenly Father. However, I thought about her question and had an epiphany. Even though heaven is God's gift for those who have lived their lives "Christ-like" I believe that heaven is not for everybody.
        For example, if you think that happy hour is "Miller time," as opposed to praising God, then heaven is not for you.
If you don't praise God on Earth, then heaven is not for you. In heaven, we will be singing and praising God eternally.
If you like to gossip while listening to your gospel music, then heaven is not for you. When you gossip, you are breaking two commandments. You are a murderer, killing a person's reputation and influence, while also being a thief and stealing a person's honor.
        If you are impressed with your lovely singing voice as opposed to the hymn's message, then heaven is not for you. God wants us to sing praises unto him, whether we sound like Luther Vandross or Donald Duck. Isn't God awesome?
        If you walk up and down the streets or stand on the corner waiting to score, then heaven is not for you. Those streets are paved with gold and reserved for those who are sold on Christ, not for those who sell their souls.
        If you are one who judges others, then heaven is not for you. Heaven already has a supreme justice, and it is not you.
        If you love material things more than God and your fellow man, then heaven is definitely not for you.
Love is the greatest commandment in heaven and Earth. Heaven is not for everybody.

Is heaven for you?

William Alexander lives in East Spencer and is the director of the faith-based organization Hope for the Elderly and Disabled (HEAD).

   Years ago at Niagara Falls, a young man was employed as a guide. Having nothing to do one day, he moored his boat well above the cataract and lay down in it to rest. Rocked on the bosom of the ever-moving waters, he fell asleep. He thought he had tied the boat securely, but with its constant swaying it was finally loosed, and with its unconscious occupant, began to drift with the current. Spectators on the shore, seeing his grave danger, shouted loudly to awaken him, so that he might save himself while the current was still not so rapid, but to no purpose.
   At one point in the boat's progress it was grounded upon a rock that protruded in midstream. Seeing the pause, the by-standers redoubled their efforts to arouse the sleeping man, crying lustily to him, "Get on the rock! Get on the rock!" But he slumbered on, oblivious to his extreme peril.
   With the movement of the waters the boat was soon cleared from the rock, and heading for the Falls. The poor man was aroused from his sleep only amidst the thundering roar of the great cataract, over which he plunged to his death.
   How appalling! Asleep in the boat! Calmly and unconsciously drifting into the very jaws of death! One trembles to think of it.
   Yet how aptly this illustrates the indifference of souls today! - many unconcerned as to their fatal course, fast asleep in their sins, perhaps lulled on the tide by earthly pleasures, soothed into false confidence by their dependence on a blameless life or religious profession. ALL ASLEEP IN THE BOAT!
   "The god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:4.
   Dear reader, are you safely moored to the Rock; or are you drifting with the tide? Have you Christ as your Saviour, or are you carried along with the broad, rapid current of a world that is fast approaching its destruction? If still unsaved, will you not awake to the danger of going on without Christ? If you keep putting off the salvation of your soul till some future day, you may suddenly wake up too late and find yourself taking that last fatal plunge over the brink into the dark waters of death and the fearful woes of a lost eternity.
   "Awake thou that sleepest." Eph. 5:14.
   "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt he saved." Acts 16:31.