Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Jesus said, "Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for all . . . who choose its easy way. But the Gate-way to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it."¹

Some years ago Bishop Fulton J. Sheen was scheduled to speak at the town hall in an unfamiliar city. He decided to walk and on the way got lost. He saw some boys so asked them the way to City Hall.

"What are you going to do there?" asked one of the boys.

"I'm going to give a lecture," replied the bishop.

"About what?"

"On how to get to heaven. Would you care to come along?"

"Are you kidding?" said the boy, "You don't even know how to get to City Hall!"

How tragic that so many people are lost, not on their way to any human address but on the way to their eternal destination. So many believe, as I once did, that if I did enough good things to outweigh the bad things I had done, that would get me into God's heaven.

Not so, I'm afraid. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through me."² This is because, no matter how good we may be by human standards, every one of us is born with the "dis-ease of sin." And if God allowed sin's disease into heaven, it would destroy heaven as it has earth.

The only way to God and heaven is not through our good works but by accepting God's Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior. Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sin so he could deliver us from the effects of sin's disease which is eternal death and separation from Godâ€"the source of all love and life.

Because of what Jesus did, God now offers you and me a free pardon for all our sins. All we need to do is admit we are sinners, thank Jesus for dying on the cross in our place for our sin, invite him into our life as personal Lord and Savior, and accept his forgiveness, his gift of eternal life, and a home in heaven forever. This is God's special Christmas to all who believe.

Had there been any other way to be in a right relationship with God and heaven, then God never would have had to send his Son to die on the cross for us. So, if you have never accepted God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life, and would like help to do that right now, be sure to read: How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian without having to be religious at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for Your great Christmas love gift to the world and for giving Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. I believe and ask You to forgive all my sins. And Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross in my place and I invite You into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for You always in all ways. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Matthew 7:13-14 (TLB) (NLT).
2. John 14:6 (NIV).

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