Missing Heaven by 18 Inches.

Does this title startle you? How can anyone get so close and yet

in the end hear the Lord say, "I never knew you: depart from me"? (1)

However, this will be the terrible result of many in our churches

today who are professing Christians, often with responsible positions,

but who have had only a 'head' acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tragically enough, even teachers, preachers and religious workers are

not exempt from the possibility of this chilling indictment.

The distance between the head and the heart is 18 inches.

Unfortunately, a 'head' (intellectual) knowledge of the Lord Jesus

Christ, fully knowing and giving mental assent to the plan of

salvation, without also a 'heart' acceptance that brings the personal

relationship that the Bible demands, avails nothing to any man.

Listen to Paul's heart cry concerning Israel as he spoke under

the guidance of the Holy Spirit, "For I bear them record that they

have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." (2) He was

speaking about misdirected efforts, energies expended in the strength

of the flesh but not under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The lack

of power today in many of our churches as well as the lack of power

today in the lives of many professing Christians can be laid directly

to this.

It is only as we see ourselves in the mirror of God's Word as

without excuse and without hope, utterly lost and undone, that the

truth of the Scriptures convicts us, for the Bible clearly reveals

that this is how God sees man. (3)

Then, when the glorious truth of the gospel brings us to

recognition of our own sinfulness, and in true repentance we cry out

to God asking forgiveness and help, asking Him to come into our

'hearts', not our heads, we experience the new birth.

Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man

cometh unto the Father, but by me." (4)

The Bible also tells us that "He that hath the Son hath <eternal>

life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life," (5)

Furthermore, the Bible promises "That if thou shalt confess with

thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God

hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the

'heart' man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation." (6)

Christ wants your 'heart', not just your head because "The Lord

seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but

the Lord looketh on the heart." (7)

It is vitally important that you make sure it is not just head

knowledge and mental assent you have given to Jesus Christ. He needs

the complete surrender of your heart and life so that you may be truly

born again.

Eighteen inches can mean an eternity with Christ or an eternity

without Christ. Are you sure of your personal relationship to Him?

Why not settle the question in your heart once and for all right now?

Paul W. Empet

Bible References: (1) Matthew 7:23; (2) Romans 10:2; (3) Romans 3:10-

18, 21-23; (4)John 14:5; (5)John 5:12; (6)Romans 10:9-10; (7) 1 Samuel

16:7.

Computers for Christ - Chicago

---

Index of Articles of Interest    Home

  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 | 109 | 110 | 111 | 112 | 113 | 114 | 115 | 116 | 117 | 118 | 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 124 | 125 | 126 | 127 | 128 | 129 | 130 | 131 | 132 | 133 | 135 | 136 | 137 | 138 | 139 | 140 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 | 149 | 150 | 151 | 152 | 153 | 154 | 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | 167 | 168 | 169 | 170 | 171 | 172 | 173 | 174 | 175 | 176 | 177 | 178 | 179 | 180 | 181 | 182 | 183 | 184 | 185 | 186 | 187 | 188 | 189 | 190 | 191 | 192 | 193 | 194 | 195 | 196 | 197 | 198 | 199 | 200 | 201 | 202 | 203 | 204 | 205 | 206 | 207 | 208 | 209 | 210 | 211 | 212 | 213 | 214 | 215 | 217 | 218 | 219 | 220 | 221 | 222 | 223 | 224 | 225 | 226 | 227 | 228 | 229 | 230 | 231 | 232 | 233 | 235 | 236 | 237 | 238 | 239 | 240 | 241 | 242 | 243 | 244 | 245 | 246 | 247 | 248 | 249 | 250 | 251 | 252 | 253 | 254 | 255 | 256 | 257 | 258 | 259 | 260 | 261 | 262 | 263 | 264 | 265 | 266 | 267 | 268 | 269 | 270 | 271 | 272 | 273 | 274 | 275 | 276 | 277 | 278 | 279 | 280 | 281 | 282 | 283 | 284 | 285 | 286 | 287 | 288 | 289 | 290 | 291 | 292 | 293 | 294 | 295 | 296 | 297 | 298 | 299 | 300 | 301 | 302 | 303 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | 311 | 312 | 313 | 314 | 315 | 317 | 318 | 319 | 320 | 321 | 322 | 323 | 324 | 325 | 326 | 327 | 328 | 329 | 330 | 331 | 332 | 333