Most of my readers will think this is a simple statement, with a simple answer. Their answer would be don’t get saved, just do nothing, and with that, I concur. However, I believe there are those who are deceived in many ways that end up missing Heaven.
First, the obvious group are those who have never placed their faith in Christ, repented of their sins, and surrendered to Him as Lord of their lives. These have not done this because of a lack of knowledge. There are multitudes who have never heard the gospel and have no knowledge of the one true God. Their hearts have never been pricked by the Holy Spirit. They do not feel the guilt of their sin because they have not been exposed to a Holy God. Therefore, it is very important to send missionaries to areas where the gospel has never been preached. Romans 10:14 makes it clear it is our responsibility to send and go to those who have never heard.
Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
The next group that misses Heaven, are those who have been told all they need to do is follow a pattern. They go to an altar, and repeat some words someone tells them to say, but they never truly repent or surrender to Jesus as the Lord of their life. They are told by someone they said the right words and they are saved. They believe they are ok, but they are not. Their hearts have never been changed and the Holy Spirit does not dwell within them. This is the most dangerous state to be in because they think they are ok. No one can get saved until they recognize they are lost!
Another group that will miss Heaven is those who have believed in a false religion. There are too many to mention them all. If I tried, by the time I listed them all another one would pop up. False religion is any religion that does not believe Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus is God in the flesh. He always has been and always will be. He came to earth to redeem us through his sacrificial death. He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect sinless life here on earth. He died on a cross, rose from the grave, and ascended back to the Father, where He now waits at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us, and awaiting the time for Him to return to earth, to receive those who belong to Him. These religions are usually works-based religions. Any religion that does not believe these biblical truths and denies that Jesus alone is enough is false. Truth is no longer true if there is any false in the mix. The horrible part about deception is that when you are deceived, you don’t know you are deceived. These also don’t realize they are lost.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
There is also a group that has every intention of making Heaven but will miss it. These are those who keep putting off making the decision to follow Christ. They put it off until it is too late! Some wait too late and death comes. Some also push the Holy Spirit away so much that it doesn’t bother them anymore.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
The next group that will miss Heaven are those who have made “shipwreck” of their faith. While this is a subject of much debate. It is very clear in scripture that it is possible. I have read both sides of this argument and it’s still very clear to me that there is a possibility to become an apostate. Someone who has tasted of the good grace of Jesus and turned their back on Him. They have chosen to reject Him and chose the world. They deny Him and want no part of Him. Paul talks about keeping himself right with God so that he does not make shipwreck of his faith. The word castaway in I Corinthians 9:27 is the same Greek word for a reprobate. While there are many other verses and examples in the Bible of the possibility of apostasy. Apostasy means to abandon or renounce. God gives us a free will from the time we are born until the day we die. We can choose to follow, or we can turn our backs on Him and deny Him. It is still our choice! This devotion is not about apostasy, but it is another way people will miss Heaven.
1Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:”
I Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
II Peter 2:20-22 “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
While it is important for us to know that there are different ways to miss Heaven, it is a command from God for those who are Christians to do everything within their power to win others to Him. We are to live our lives as a testimony to show who Jesus is. We are to witness with our mouths and with our actions. We are left here after we receive Christ to tell others of the good news of salvation.
