Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, March 16, 2015

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."¹

On one occasion when Joy and I were visiting in New York City, we wanted to visit Ellis Island where many of the early immigrants were processed before being allowed to enter and welcomed into the U.S. From downtown we were told to go on the red line subway train. Not knowing anything about the subway system, we sure felt relieved when we found the right train and boarded it.

Oops ... after quite a while we discovered that while we were on the right train, we were headed in the wrong direction. While we were sincere, we happened to be sincerely wrong.

We've all heard about football players who have done the same type of thing; that is, they were on the right team, but were running with the ball towards the wrong goal. They were sincere too, but sincerely wrong.

Many a person too, may be in the right church but, without knowing it, may be heading in the wrong direction. They, too, may be very sincere but sincerely wrong.

In younger years I figured that if I did more good things to outweigh the bad things that I had done, that would get me into God's heaven. That is, by my good works I could earn my way into heaven. Wrong. God's Word makes it very clear that there is no way we can earn our way into God's heaven. Forgiveness of sins and the way to heaven are totally a gift from God. This is because Jesus Christ, God's Son, died on the cross to pay the penalty for all our sins making God's gift of forgiveness and a home in heaven possible. All we need to do is confess our sinfulness to God, repent from our sinful ways, and ask God for his forgiveness and gift of eternal life in heaven—and accept these by faith.

The word "repent" literally means to do a u-turn and go in the opposite direction. That is, to turn from our sins and from going our own way to go God's way.

When it comes to your eternal destiny, whatever you do make sure you are on the right road heading in the right direction. As Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."² Being sincere won't make it.

Note: to be absolutely sure you are on the right road to heaven read "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" online at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to know and understand Your instructions regarding the only way into Your heaven as explained in Your Word, the Bible. And help me to be absolutely certain that I am on the correct path, that my sins forgiven by You, and that I have received Your gift of eternal life to be with You in heaven forever. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. The Bible (Proverbs 14:12, NIV).
2. Jesus (John 14:6, NIV).

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