AM I GOING TO HEAVEN? by Andrea Marino

I have asked myself this question many times since being saved, which was back in August 1973. I’m sure I’m not the only one to wonder if maybe I crossed a line somewhere, possibly committing the unpardonable sin, the one sin God could not forgive. (Mark 3:27, 29). There are many voices, crying out, but only a few that speak Truth. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, is one such voice; a voice still crying out in the wilderness through a remnant of people today. The word of the Lord came to John, and he went into all the areas of the Jordan River preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 3:3) This was in fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah. (40:3- 5) “Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!” (Luke 3:4 HCSB) Only Jesus can level the playing field that all of us must tread, promising to fill every valley, take down every mountain and hill, making the rough ways smooth and straight so everyone can see the salvation of God. Jesus is Lord of the harvest; and we, the people of God, have been commissioned to spread His truth. (Mathew 9:38, 28:19)

Interestingly enough, John said to the crowd, coming to him to be baptized, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” (Luke 3:7 HCSB) I cringe at his choice of words; however, many people are seeking to do something so that they be in right standing with God, so to be able to “flee from the coming wrath.” It appears John was setting the record straight about how to enter the Kingdom of God. To the people of his day, reliance on Abraham as their father was inadequate. John specified their fruit (what one’s life produces) was to be consistent with repentance (see Luke 3:8) In other words, salvation, with its access to heaven, has nothing to do with personal performance nor does it take into account one’s relationship to any other human being, faithful as they may be.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of the blessing in poverty. (Mathew 5:3) All of us are born with a ‘poverty of spirit’. Not until recognizing this lack within can we discover the most important need of the Savior. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. No man comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) Repentance is a change of heart, a turning away from the wrong things we do. “Against You, and You alone, have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:4 NLT) Whenever I fall short and do not do what I know to do and that is right (See Roman’s 7), I get a wake-up call. Agreeing with God as to what I did wrong, I ask for His forgiveness. I used to beat myself up over these things. The devil is quick to propose we are beyond God’s scope of forgiveness—somewhat like having committed the unpardonable sin. The Holy Spirit will convict us when we do not do what is right; but “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NLT) God’s ways guard against self-righteousness, which is a mindset of thinking we can save ourselves. True repentance puts us on the right path, the one that leads to Heaven.

It is a choice to receive or reject God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. There are people who will refuse to repent. Only the Lord knows who these are. Hard as it is to be a co-laborer with Jesus in this end-time harvesting of souls, we remember our part in the Great Commission. The truth is, all of us were once lost. Dead in trespasses and sins, we all previously walked according to this worldly age, living in and carrying out the inclinations of our flesh. (Ephesians 2:1-3) “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 KJV) Oh, that many would see the depth of God’s love and turn to Him in this late hour.

Andrea Marino

With a yearning to uncover the secret to life, Andrea embarked on a journey to discover truth. The study of Psychology proved inadequate, while the forces of darkness began to make their presence known. The Hobble, from Ai to Bethel encompasses Andrea’s personal victory over fear and bondage to the enemy. Passionate in sharing God’s Good News about Jesus, the author desires to encourage people to never lose hope. Because we all ‘hobble’ before God in need of Him. When not writing, Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.

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