Before and After

            Most people in “Christian” circles associate the term Christian with those who are part of the kingdom of heaven.  Christians go to heaven... right?

(Mt 18:3) And [Jesus] said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

       Entering the kingdom of heaven requires change.   Jesus says in order to go to heaven, you must change – not just a little, but enough to recognize a child-like spirit.   This is not my teaching, but that of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  I know of many people who call themselves Christians that are just like everyone else in our culture.  They certainly don't have the child-like heart to imitate their “Daddy.” Many of them know little more about God than that Jesus is the way out of hell and into heaven.  They don't have the innocence of childhood as they continue to swear and tell dirty jokes, as they cheat on their taxes or on their spouses, as they speed on the highway and speed past a beggar on the street, as they gossip and judge, as they fill up on TV and movies that are full of the messages of selfishness and sin that is now rampant in our culture,  as they spend more on entertainment than they give back to God, as they spend more to feed their pet than on taking care of the needy, as they live in a huge house while so many on the other side of the world have nowhere to live and no food to eat. Have these “Christians” really changed? Would Jesus say they have become like little children?  If there is no visible change in behaviour, has there really been a change at all?

The term “Christian” was first used as a derogatory name that meant “little Christ.”  Jesus was very different from anyone who had gone before Him.  For these early followers to be called “little Christs,” they must have changed from who they were before coming to know Jesus.  Their behaviour was so radically different from those around them, and so similar to what people had seen in Jesus,  that they earned the name Christian.  So, Christians as defined in the Bible are clearly going to heaven.  But claiming to be a  “Christian”  in North America today does not guarantee anything, including heaven.

Jesus taught that a person MUST CHANGE to enter heaven.

I can hear the argument already – change takes time.  True, change is an ongoing and life-long process.  However, if you truly have a relationship with the Living God – He won't let you stay the same.   I have seen a radical almost instantaneous change in many people when they decide to commit their lives to Christ. That is what Jesus is talking about here. Change does not earn your way into heaven, only the blood of Jesus on the cross can do that.  Rather, obvious ongoing change is a testimony that you are already in the kingdom of heaven and are being transformed by the Living God.  On the other hand, the lack of change is evidence that you are not yet in the kingdom of heaven. God has brought this to your attention, because He longs for you to join Him in heaven!  It all starts with commitment.  Make a commitment to give yourself fully to Jesus Christ, and He will make sure the rest of the details come together. This is much more than asking Him to forgive you and be your Savior.  It is much more like a marriage vow.

A person can be certain of entrance into the kingdom of heaven only if their life is marked by change – change from the inside out. Jesus declares that there must be a “Before and After” story for there to be a happy ending in heaven.