There will be all kinds of people in heaven. People from every nation and who speak different languages. People who had differing view points about all sorts of preferences, and even political view points. But all these different people will have one thing in common: they didn’t deserve mercy or grace. Outside of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no righteous people in heaven; only sinners saved by grace.

And sadly, hell will be filled with people who proclaimed righteousness and portrayed religion. Yet, neither of these save. God doesn’t save the proud or those pretending to have life all together. God saves the brokenhearted, the humbled, and the repentant.

So, today, wherever you are, please pause. Are you comparing yourself to those around you, or those you see on social media? Are you hoping your inner person is better than someone else, which somehow results in a tipped scale in your favor? Realize, that all of us fall short. We’re all messed up and sinners deserving eternal judgment.

But God is rich in mercy and generous with grace. God sent His only Son to live the life required for us to live, and to pay the penalty of sin that we deserve. God demonstrated His love in that while we were enemies of God and sinners of the world, Jesus Christ died for us. Jesus loves the mess out of us.

That’s the good news, but there’s even greater news. God turns graves into gardens, and valleys of dry bones into family reunions. God resurrected the crucified Son with ample eyewitness accounts of the living Lord. Jesus is alive and that changes everything about today, and everyday.

So, where is your life going? What is your foundation and rock that keeps you going? Friend, I ask you to turn away from stubborn independence from God, and trust in Jesus. It’s a big step to relinquish control of your life. But you don’t have to have it all figured out.

The first step is repentance. Repentance is agreeing with God and His word about your beliefs and behaviors. It’s specifically admitting where you have doubted God’s wisdom and directed your life upon human understanding. Then, it’s entering alignment with the worldview that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and apart from Him there is no salvation.

The next step is faith that Jesus has all the other steps figured out. It’s following Jesus, no matter the cost, and realizing that true and lasting joy is merely a byproduct of obedience to God.

And here is the confidence for people of faith: God will meet you with fresh grace at each turn, every trial, and any tribulation. Following Jesus will be difficult. Swimming against the current of culture will have conflict and make you second guess your faith. But as you press on, you won’t regret following Jesus because His end will be your end, which is really a never ending beginning.

Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal. Our present sufferings are incomparable to the glory that is to be revealed. Heaven informs the Christian for which kingdom they will live. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and let us offer our lives as living sacrifices in reverence for Jesus and awe of God.

Salvation belongs to God.