I’m pretty sure that when he drew this particular comic strip, Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis didn’t think it would become an educational tool. But the moment I saw it, my spidey sense tingled and I snapped a photo with my iPhone.
Pastis is criticizing Jesus followers here and even if you agree with him, I hope you’re open-minded enough to read on as I tell you the truth about this faith.
1. Going to church will NOT get you, or anyone else, into Heaven. This very common misconception has no connection with following Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong; attending regular services is a great idea. At church you can learn who God is, why He is passionately interested in YOU and how you can become the person He created you to be.
Oh, and along the way, you’ll learn exactly what Heaven is, why it’s the best place to be when this life ends and how you can make that happen.
But it doesn’t matter how often you attend church; on its own, it still won’t get you to Heaven.
2. In theory, cleaning up your act can get you into Heaven. But what does that mean? I can tell you right now that it means, way, WAY more than putting an end to drinking, swearing and carousing.
In fact, Jesus of Nazareth — whom many people believe is God’s Son — says “you must be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect”.
I feel quite safe in writing that no one on this planet except Jesus has ever, EVER come close to that standard.
So, how are you feeling now about your chances of qualifying for Heaven on your own efforts?
3. Are there judgemental, “religious” people in Heaven? Nope. Not even one. The people who arrive there after this life ends are transformed; ALL their character flaws are deleted, leaving only the best behind to live in eternity with their Creator.
In fact, think of the people in your life who you most admire, who you love spending time with, who inspire and encourage you, who bring you joy. Those are the kind of people in Heaven.
So after all this, how do you get to Heaven? It’s simple: God offers you Jesus — His life, His groundbreaking teachings, His remarkable compassion, His sin-destroying sacrificial death, His life-restoring resurrection — as a gift. All you need to do is accept that gift.
When you say yes to the gift of Jesus, He enters your soul and starts the life-long process of making you into the person God created you to be. That process finally finishes when this life ends and you enter into eternity with Him.
Interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
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