Are you searching for utopia?

“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” Revelation 21. 4.

Many countries in the world are facing severe social problems due to the influx of illegal immigrants. These are people who seek to enter a country without going through the due legal processes. Such statutory requirements are usually clearly defined by the host country but there are people who will not bow to authority and others who want to get in some way of their own devising.

It appears that these people, while in their own land, heard about a country where life was reported to be very much better than what they were accustomed to and they wanted to enjoy it. Even if they do not meet the entry qualifications they have a determination to gain entry no matter what and their decision often ends in disaster.

Many people who condemn such actions actually behave similarly themselves. They have heard of a place that is immensely superior to earth in every respect. This place is called heaven, which is the eternal abode of God and His people. There every problem, pain and sorrow of life are gone forever. The Bible, the Word of God, says about it, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” Revelation 21. 4.

Just as earthly governments decide the criteria required for entry to their country, so God, to Whom heaven belongs, has decided the entry requirements to heaven and these are non-negotiable. God unambiguously states, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” Revelation 21. 27. Despite the clarity of this, some people want their own way and of this God has said, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 16. 25; see also Proverbs 14. 12. Jesus Christ, God’s Son said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” John 14. 6.

The Bible teaches that we are all defiled by sin and so records twice, “all have sinned” Romans 3. 23; 5. 12. It is very clear that if we want to be in God’s holy heaven, this defilement must all be washed away. There is only one method of cleansing, “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin”, 1 John 1.7. You may think you have a better way, but good works and religious observances will never take away sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” Ephesians 2. 8,9. Again it is recorded, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” Titus 3. 5. A profound question is asked in Proverbs 20. 9, “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” The Psalmist knew only God could do this cleansing and so he cried, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” Psalm 51. 2. This underlines the truth that God and God alone can save and the only righteous basis on which that can be accomplished is the sacrifice of Christ when crucified on Calvary. Hence the words of Revelation 1. 5, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”.

If you really desire to be in heaven then you must accept God’s terms and not be as foolish as the illegal immigrants. A jailor asked the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The answer was just as succinct, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16. 30, 31.

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This article has been reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of Assembly Testimony Magazine.