What is the price of admission to Heaven? Is there a certain number of good deeds that must be done? Is there a "To Do" list that will guarantee our final destination? Or is there a list of things that we must not do in order to reserve our place in heaven?
Religion has debated this heavy topic on many occasions. Pastors, priests, ministers and preachers have lead their congregations to believe one way or the other in their weekly sermons with topics such as charity toward others, good deeds, setting a Christian example, don't be an adulterer, don't lie, cheat or steal. While all of this guidance makes us better people in general, can it really change our ultimate fate?
I am currently reading an e-book on this topic that I have found to be very provocative. Done. : What Most Religions Don't Tell You About the Bible by Cary Schmidt is a fairly short, easy read on the subject of doing versus done. I do not know the author's credentials but regardless of their background, I personally feel that this author presents a question that has been on my mind since I began my exploration of life as a Christian. If God gave us his only son, Jesus Christ, as our personal savior and allowed him to be crucified to cleanse mankind of their sin debt, what action of man could possibly "trump" that? Did the death of Christ guarantee all of us our place in heaven?
Without attempting to summarize the entire text, the author states that the Bible clearly indicates that man is incapable of being without sin, it is our fundamental nature to be sinful since Adam and Eve first decided to eat of the forbidden fruit. Yet, God loves us unconditionally and wants a real relationship with us, regardless. The author continues to say that God does not want to be our task master, checking off a list of do's and don'ts, but rather wants to be our Father in every sense of the word, our ultimate resource, our Alpha and Omega. It all boils down to the fact that God does not care what WE do, it is about what HE has done. He has cleared the books, our account is clear.
At this point in my journey, I am not sure what I think in reference to my ultimate destination. I was not raised in church and did not attend Sunday School. Traditional, structured religion has not shaped my belief in God. I have always just known that there was an ultimate power in control of our lives. It is reassuring to note that I am not the only one who wonders about the bias of religion and the effects of man's interpretation of the Bible. I am sure that I will continue to find questions and answers and more questions as I read the Bible and seek to expand my knowledge of Christianity.
Please let me know if you have found this post to be enlightening or thought provoking, and definitely feel free to comment with any other books that might enrich my spiritual journey or might benefit others in their search for answers.
** Please note, that the above link will take you to Amazon.com, a website I love, but I am in no way affiliated or compensated by Amazon. This e-book is currently free for Kindle users, but as always, prices are subject to change without notice. I am also not associated in any way with the author or publisher of this book. **
