Mistaken

There are Deadly Mistakes!

A man once had mistakenly used a word exactly opposite of its true meaning. He thought that the simple word “peruse” meant to quickly look through a text and learn its basic ideas. He used the word peruse incorrectly for many years. One day, after a response to an email to a friend the man realized that his friend interpreted his use of the word peruse as meaning the exact opposite of what he had intended. The man looked up the word to discover he had used it incorrectly for many years. Although he was mistaken the consequences of his mistake were relatively minor.

Many people are mistaken about how to obtain Heaven. A Buddhist believes he will obtain his version of Heaven (Nirvana) after many succeeding lifetimes on this earth. A Mormon believes he will secure passage to Heaven after he is accepted into the Temple and accomplishes a series of good deeds. Most people believe that if you live a basically good life, maybe attend church and die with a clear conscience you will deserve Heaven. Are these and other similar hopes mistaken? Are there many ways to Heaven or just one and only one way? According to the Bible, God’s Word, there is only one way. These people are simply mistaken.

Being mistaken about how to use a word and being mistaken about how to get to Heaven are vastly different in their consequence. If you use the incorrect word you will only risk being misunderstood. If you live your entire life with a false hope of Heaven you risk an everlasting result which is major.

There was once an elderly gentleman who lived in Jacksonville Florida. The man noticed some pain in his leg. After a time his family talked him into visiting the doctor. After the visit and some tests the man was diagnosed with cancer. Contrary to the doctor’s advice the man did nothing about the problem. After a time the pain and complications became so severe that the man returned to the doctor. He was informed that the cancer had progressed beyond treatment, he was told he would die. The man later said that he did not think that his initial cancer diagnosis would end up with great pain and finally his death. This man did not intend to die from cancer. He had made a risky choice, he was sadly mistaken.

Why would anyone risk making a mistake with the most important issue of this lifetime. Why would a person risk the possibility of what the Bible calls the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21). The Bible gives a very clear description of the result of being mistaken. The Bible is clear how to get to Heaven – no mistakes.

The Bible clearly states “For all have sinned…” Romans 3:23. Many people decide, contrary to the Bible, that they can pay for their sins by doing good deeds. They assume that their good will outweigh their bad. God’s word, the Bible, says “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Isaiah 64:6. In another place God says “Not by works of righteousness which we have done… ” Titus 3:5.

The ultimate mistake a person can make is how to deal with sin.

God offers only one way to deal with sin. He says about Jesus Christ “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” Hebrews 10:12. God’s solution for your sin was to send Jesus Christ to make the complete payment for sin. Jesus made that complete payment. When he was done, He sat down. His job was done.

Often people mistakenly decide to use some form of religion to deal with their sin. They join a church or follow some spiritual tenants and manage to convince themselves that they are safe from the wrath to come.  Religion is not what God is concerned with.  Religion is something man invented for himself.  God is interested in people doing what He says.  If we come to God sincerely, ask Him to forgive us of our sins and trust Him with all of our heart, then He is interested in what we have to say.  Then He will allow us into heaven.