Love to hear from and know who is listening
What would you think if I was to tell you there is a very simple test that you could take, and if you pass you will get into heaven, no questions asked. There are only 10 questions on this test. The test questions are not essay question, they are not multiple choice, they are even easier than true – false. This is a hands on practical test. No paper and number 2 pencil needed. You won't have to worry about if you darkened in the circle good enough for the test reader to know your answer. Each question only requires a simple action or response from you. Matter of fact you can even cut the test down from 10 questions to only two very simple questions. Have I got your curiosity peaked? Do you think maybe Jeff's cheese has finally slid off his cracker. Maybe I am “cuckoo the coca puffs!” Their is one catch. You must get a perfect score. You can't miss a single test question or you fail. Oh yeah and you have been taking this test since the day you were born and you didn't even realize it. The test is the law set forth in the 10 commandments in Exodus chapter 20. So now I bet you want to know how I got from 10 questions on my heavenly test down to only 2. Here is how, in the book of Matthew Jesus was asked by a Pharisee, what the 2 greatest commandments were and here is what He said.
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Let's take a look at the 10 commandments a bit closer. Number 1, “You shall have no other God.” Number 2, “You shall make no idols.” Number 3, “Don't use the Lord's name in vain.” and Number 4, “Keep the Sabbath day holy.” So if you do as Jesus says and love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind then you have the first 4 commandments covered, no problem. Now let's look at the last 6 commandments. Number 5, “Honor your father and mother.” Number 6, “Don't murder.” Number 7, “Don't commit adultery.” Number 8, “Don't steal.” Number, 9, “Don't bear false witness about your neighbor.” And number 10, “Don't covet your neighbors stuff.” So if you follow Jesus wisdom again and you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself then you got the last 6 commandments covered as well. Sounds oh so simple, right. Well unfortunately we humans are a rather hard headed and difficult group that can't seem to follow directions very well. Heck Adam and Eve were only given one rule, “Don't eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” and they messed that up.
In all of history only one human has ever been able to keep all of the law and pass this test, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So knowing now that you have already failed the simply two question heavenly test what are we to do. Well the answer is very simple! God has given us an easy way out of the test. Since Jesus is the only human ever to pass the test, God says if you place our faith in the Jesus as the Son of God, you can use His passing score to get into heaven!
Romans 10: 9-10 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Do we truly love God with all our heart, all souls, and mind, and do we really love our neighbor as ourselves? If we are truthful with ourselves, we know that we do not, but the good news is that the law and commandments were given as o
