I have struggled with this since day one of being a Christian. I still can't wrap my head around it completely.
Charles Manson murdered several people, but yet on his death bed, he could accept Christ and be able to enter heaven. Adolf Hitler killed thousands of Jewish people, but all he would have had to do is accept Jesus and go to heaven. The same with John Wayne Gacy and so many others. I still have a hard time believing this. These cold blooded killers could accept Jesus and be able to go to heaven.
As the conversation continued, I stated that if all this were true, then what's the sense of living a good Godly life. If all you have to do is accept Jesus right before you die, then what is the purpose of living a holy life. Then she made the most profound statement about this. She said "what if you never get the chance to get right with Jesus before you die." What if you are living a sinful life and are far apart from God and then die instantly in a automobile accident. You don't have the chance to get right with God. So the way that you live your life matters. How close you live to God matters!
This reminded me of the Ten Bridesmaids from Matthew 25.
Matthew 25
New Living Translation (NLT)
Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids[a] who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’
12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’
13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
So all of this tells me to be ready at all times for the return of Jesus. To live a good, clean, holy life. To live close to God and be right with Him! Never stray to far from Him or His commands!
ARE YOU RIGHT WITH GOD??
