Name ten beers

I saw a video clip the other day of people being asked to name as many of the Ten Commandments as they could remember. To my surprise none’ of the people could name even one. Young and old took part in the survey at a mall. Now when they were asked to name ten brands of beer, they immediately rattled them off with precision and actually acted quite proud of their accomplishment.

What a commentary for our society. The Bible teaches that God’s laws are written by God in our heart and even though we may not recognize the Ten Commandments formally, we know when we have done something wrong via conscience. Everyone save the child that has not reached an age of accountability will be held accountable for breaking even one of God’s laws. Our sin will keep us separated form God for eternity.

God does not allow liars, thieves, murderers, adulterers, coveters, blasphemers, and the like into heaven and if He did it would not be much better than earth would it? Heaven is not like this world; it is completely free from the likes of the above. God is perfect and cannot tolerate sin and where He resides sin is not present nor will He ever allow it to even enter into His holy presence.

You might say well I am not a liar or a thief or any of the above. Oh really? Most everyone sometime in their life has told a lie, does that make them a liar? Most everyone at one point or other in their entire life has stolen something; does that make them a thief? Most everyone has gotten mad at someone which Jesus defined as committing murder in your heart. The same is true for lusting after someone, which most of us have done; just remember that according to Jesus you have already committed adultery in your heart whenever you have lusted for them, regardless of whether or not you commit the act. What about coveting something or someone? Have you ever been guilty of that? Ever once in your life dishonored your parents? Ever worshipped other Gods like material possessions, money, fishing, or golf? Used the Lord’s name in vain?

We have all been guilty of most, if not all, of the above at one time or other and we are sinners and we will not enter heaven until our punishment for those sins has been exacted. Jesus paid for all of our sins on the cross and through Him we are washed free of sins and given admittance into heaven as a new creature. Without Him we are eternally separated from God and heaven.

I know the Ten Commandments and I know I have violated them. Because of this knowledge I am keenly aware that I could never enter heaven on my own merit. I fear the Lord and know in my heart that He is serious when it comes to the subject of sin and keeping His kingdom free of it. I have asked Him to forgive me my sins and He has done so. I have repented of them and am trying hard to live the kind of life he wants me to live. When I fail Him I ask for forgiveness and He looks at my heart and sees my sincerity and does so. When I die I will enter heaven not because of anything I’ have done, but because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross and through my complete faith in Him.

I hope that you understand that God is holy and heaven is reserved for righteousness. Through Christ we become righteous; apart from Him we remain unrighteous. Look at the Ten Commandments and understand that violating even one in God’s eyes makes you unfit to enter into heaven. That is why there are no tears in heaven; only joy and peace forever…

Romans 8:10
And if Christ is in you, the body
is dead because of sin, but the Spirit
is life because of righteousness.