Saturday, 17 March 2018

HOW CAN WE ATTAIN HEAVEN

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So many persons have pondered over the basic prerequisite for attaining the kingdom of heaven but I put it to you that to attain heaven is not a game of chance or survival of the fittest. Heaven is a prepared place for the prepared people. There is no ambiguity, only the souls of the righteous will be there. Heaven as a matter of fact, is for those who do the will of God.      
The qualifications or conditions for accomplishing the great task of getting to heaven is therefore living the virtues of Christ in faithfulness till the end of time. Accordingly, the Christians must struggle to kowtow to the image of our Lord and redeemer Jesus Christ because it is the guarantee of attaining heaven. Christian baptism only makes one a candidate of heaven but one must make every effort to make Christ’s rule one’s life. One of Christ attributes is holiness but in this case, it is not the facial holiness rather, it is the holiness in words, actions and thoughts. In this regard, the Church Fathers state that “all the faithful are invited and obliged to holiness’and the perfection of their own state of life.” this call for holiness, rules out unholy acts and deeds like impurity in its forms and shapes (by words, actions and thoughts), willfully designed masturbation, pre- and post-marital infidelity (fornication and adultery), etcetera. This was even stressed by St. Paul when he stated that the sins of the flesh should not be mentioned by Christians talk more of being practiced by Christians.
            However, the grace of God which calls us to live a holy life, a life of perfection, and total submission to Christ in purity of heart and body is there to assist one in the battle for getting to the kingdom of heaven. Hence, we you to be courageous in the battle, for you are not alone. Again, it should come to our attention that there is no democracy in morality that is, everyone will have to give a personal account of himself or herself on the last day. Finally, we have to prepare ourselves for that kingdom and we should not hope for miracle on that day. Remember, he who enjoys to the end, he shall be lost, but he who endures to the end, he shall be saved. Think of the story of Lazarus and the rich man.
                                                                                                          Ukaegbu Christian


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