HE LOVES TO HEAR HIS NAME

Let’s say that today is the day you will draw your last breath on this earth; your number’s up; your time has run out; the grim reaper has come calling; etc.   You are standing before the throne of God, and He asks you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?”  Then He adds, you are only allowed to use one word in your answer.  What would you say?  Would you say, “Sorry?”  How about “Religious?”  Maybe you would say, “Please!”  Or perhaps, you would say, “Baptist,” or “Catholic,” or whatever religion of which you were a member.  You might even say “Loved,” or “Sacrificed,” or “Tried,” or “Worked.” 

Most of those are good answers.  I am sure God would be pleased that you were a member of a church, that you were repentant, that you were polite, that you religiously demonstrated your faith by your love, sacrifice, effort, and works.  But unfortunately, none of those answers are correct; none of them will “open the door to heaven.”  There is just one word that is “our key” to eternity with God:  Jesus.

The Apostle John quoted Jesus as saying, “. . . I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6).

The Apostle Peter, speaking of Jesus, preached, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Stephen, in his defense before the high priest, had this to say about Jesus:  “. . . the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7:52).

“. . . Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5).

Upon receiving his sight back, and filled with the Holy Spirit, Luke writes of the Apostle Paul “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

The writer of the Book of Hebrews had this to say, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

James called himself  “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jam. 1:1).

Jude also called himself  “. . . the servant of Jesus Christ. . .” (Jude 1:1).

With all these risking their very lives to proclaim Jesus as the Christ, as the resurrected Lord, is it any wonder that the Father wants us to offer His name as our answer?  But, there is a warning in Scripture to those who profess Christ and yet live as though He has no say in their lives.  Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46).  Matthew wrote, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23).  Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (Jesus) whom He (The Father) hath sent” (Jn. 6:29).

      When you meet God, tell Him the name He wants to hear?  Jesus!e will of my Father which