Christians agree we are saved by God’s grace, but disagreements – sometimes sharp – arise as to how this grace operates. We use different words to describe our eternal salvation. One phrase is “being in a state of grace;” another is “being saved.” By “state of grace/being saved” we mean that if we were to die, we would go to heaven.
How do we determine whether we’re in a “state of grace/saved?” This is a crucial question as it affects the eternal destiny of every person on the planet, Christian and non-Christian alike.
Only God knows the precise answer.
Some Christians believe the profound experience they had with the Lord at some point in their life is their ticket to heaven, regardless of what happens afterwards.
Others, agreeing the Divine Encounter is a foundation of faith, assert our response to this Christian awakening matters greatly in determining whether we remain in a “state of grace/saved”. Our “response” is how we live our lives, what we have done and what we have failed to do.
Some Christians (usually Catholics) call this “cooperating with grace.”
The Bible, especially the New Testament, is a common reference point for all believers and has much to say about our eternal destiny. Believers agree it’s wrapped up in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord but differ on the details.
The Catholic Wise Guy suggests we examine what our Lord himself said about this critical issue. Jesus mentions heaven (and hell) numerous times during His ministry. The Wise Guy believes Matthew 25:31-46 (“The Judgment of Nations”) provides His most definitive statement on going to heaven and inheriting “the kingdom prepared for…(us) from the foundation of the world.” Here is the first part of His famous discourse.
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit upon His glorious throne, 32 and all the nations will be assembled before Him. 33 And He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Our Lord sits upon his “glorious throne” and all nations are “assembled before Him.” Then He separates “the sheep from the goats.” The sheep are bound for heaven, the goats for hell. What criteria does our Lord use in determining our eternal destiny? Simple: treatment of the “…these least brothers of mine.” The sheep treated them well, and the goats did not.
The Lord mysteriously identifies himself with “…these least brothers of mine.” He doesn’t say these least brothers of “yours” or “of life,” but “…of mine.” He identifies with them, they are Him. He provides six examples – the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill, and prisoners.
In the 21st century we might define “…these least brothers of mine” as our brothers and sisters with physical and psychological needs. For our own salvation, we must reach out and help.
Some Christians may want to expand the examples of our least brothers. Our Lord gave us easy-to-understand examples, not an exhaustive list. The Wise Guy would add, “I was unborn, and you protected me.”
But that’s the subject for another essay. If heaven is your preferred destination, the Lord has provided you more than enough to begin preparations for your journey. You have your Divine marching orders. Start ministering to your least brothers and sisters.
Peace