Heaven is for those who have lived according to God’s standard while on earth. It is the abode of the Almighty God and His saints. It is not a place for jokers or where anybody can go into. It is a place for the righteous, diligent, dedicated and responsible people. It is a place for those who have honestly laboured in the vineyard of the Almighty God, while on earth. The journey to heaven is a life’s time project in which an individual commits his body, soul and spirit to the things of God. A quintessential scenario is the Parable of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25:1-12, which says: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2: And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. 4: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6: And at midnight there was a cry made, ‘behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’ 7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8: And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9: But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10: And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” If you read downwards to verses 11 and 12, you will discover that the five foolish virgins returned knocking at the door for the Lord to open it for them to enter, but the Lord replied that He did not know them. The virgins were shut out of the wedding party.
The five virgins were Christians, born again and honestly running the race, but they were careless. The biblical accounts of God from creation to date, portrays God as being careful in whatever He does. Our Lord Jesus Christ was never careless throughout the period He carried out His evangelical ministry and nothing revealed that the Angels of God were less concerned or nonchalant in any project assigned to them. From all records everything in heaven and about God were carefully planned and diligently executed, meaning any heaven-bound Christian must not be careless. They must at all times be at alert and expect the sound of the trumpet. The five foolish virgins were careless for not bringing extra oil for their lamps. Although, they have run the race faithfully; they were not diligent at doing things, which was the reason they did not finish well. Pray that such will never be your portion.
One has to play by the rules, while running this heaven race. This is why in the lead scripture; the Lord clearly differentiated due process in the service of the Lord from the show of self-righteousness and not being born again. The Bible says, as many that received Him shall be called the sons of God. Whosoever that has not received our Lord Jesus Christ is not a child of God and whatever he/she does in the name of Jesus Christ is a misnomer because he/she is on his/her own accord.
The Devil or demons are God’s enemies and whosoever casts them out in the name of the Lord must be fully identify with our Lord Jesus Christ or else the Lord will deny him/her at the last day. Demons are spirits and Satan’s emissaries. Their origin is not known, but they are so numerous as to make Satan’s power to appear ubiquitous. They are capable of entering and controlling men and beasts, and earnestly seek to occupy any weak vessel.
Demons are unclean, sullen, violent, and malicious. They know our Lord Jesus Christ as the Most High God and recognise His supreme authority. They know their eternal fate as one of torment; hence they inflict physical maladies on their victims. However, mental disease is to be distinguished from mind disorder due to demonic control. Demonic influence may manifest as religious asceticism and degenerate into uncleanness. Some of the signs of demonic influence in religion are the departure from the faith and the revealed truth in the scripture. Demons are in constant spiritual war with Christians. Christian’s armour for the battle include prayers, holy lifestyle and the control of their body. All unbelievers are open to demonic possession and whosoever must cast them out must be born again and fully identify with our Lord Jesus Christ because doing this outside Jesus Christ will amount to being careless and for one to lose heaven on the last day.
The Lord is warning all Christians, especially those who take things for granted to be more careful, watchful and resilient in their conducts to avoid being taken unawares when the trumpet shall sound. As it is now, nobody knows the hour the trumpet will sound. Our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that only the father knows the hour, but the time is short and the signs of our Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming are almost completed. 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 says: “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none. 30: And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not. 31: And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.” The scripture also warns Christians to de-emphasise the importance of material things and concentrate on things that edify God and develop the spiritual, as this will enable man to be able to check the Devil at all times. People who place much priority on wealth at the detriment of their spiritual buildup are playing with their souls. Despite the economic value of the things of the world, they will surely perish in this world with the flesh, while the human soul continues to live eternally either in heaven or in hell depending on one’s lifestyle while on earth. Do not be careless with your soul because hell fire is real and not a place any human should want to go. It is for the devil and his agents. That is why the Bible asks in Mark 8:36-37: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37: Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” We all came into the world naked and naked shall we leave it. The only treasure that will out-live our existence in this world is our soul. We must not be careless with it. It is only the soul we are taking out of this earth. Do not because of the pursuit of earthly possessions allow the desires of the flesh to ruin your soul or force it to go to hell hereafter.
It is, therefore, time for us to re-examine our lives vis-à-vis our relationship with God; how we lay emphasis on the things of God? Is our priority on the acquisition of wealth at the detriment of the things of God and by implication endangering the future of our souls? As you read this message, retrace your steps with a view to reviving your prayer and evangelistic life. Make amends in any area you are nonchalant towards the things of God. As you do this today, come back to God, He will bless you and you will also make heaven hereafter, in Jesus’ name.
The Secret Of Prosperity Is Sowing, Pledging
My name is Brother Augustine Azita. I am from Ebonyi State, but based in Burkina Faso. I joined the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries in 2010 as a wretched man, but now God has turned my situation around for good. My first Mgbidi Crusade experience was the 2011 edition titled: “God Will Do A New Thing.” After that crusade, God began to do new things in my life and business. In November of that year, I returned to Nigeria, went to my village and began to mould blocks for my building. While doing this, my uncle’s wife derided me, saying, it is not to mould blocks that is the issue, but to build the house. I reported her to God of Chosen and not long with the help of God, I erected a magnificent mansion. My detractors again began to gossip that I am this and that. However, God instructed that I should establish a branch of our church in the village and I did that by constructing a wonderful edifice for the branch too.
As the gossip continued, the God of Chosen empowered me to put up a three-storey building in Abakaliki, my state capital.
God also blessed me with a wonderful mansion in the capital of Burkina Faso. So, I have come to appreciate God for the good things He has done for me. He is a magnificent God. What He cannot do does not exist.
Note: all these blessings came as a result of sowing; so, I encourage members to sow, and God will bless you as well.
I pray for the General Pastor and our members across the globe to make heaven in Jesus’ name. Praise the Lord!
