I only caught the part of Whitney Houston's funeral today when Kevin Costner was speaking. But I've now seen a few clips and read a few transcripts from the 3 1/2 hour church service at her childhood Baptist church. There are tons of angles I could talk about, but the question I've heard asked for the last week is, "Where is Whitney Houston now?" in regard to eternity. Her church believes in the "once saved, always saved" idea, so they talked about how there were many times in her life when she gave all to God, and were evasive that it was probably the mixture of drugs and alcohol that ended her life much too early. It was apparent to us all that God gave a huge gift to Whitney with "The Voice," as we've heard all week, along with attractive looks, charismatic personality, and a very supportive family. All agreed she was a nice person, but nice doesn't get you to heaven. I've always heard the line, "there are lots of nice people in hell." The same question was asked about Elvis Presley when he died too, as he was also very spiritual and generous, but died after taking too many prescription pills.
And none of us really know where she is right now, only God does. And maybe in His mercy, He took Whitney to heaven. My previous pastor who is now in his late 70's grew up in the Baptist faith and said when he was young, that Baptists did not embrace the "once saved, always saved" theology. He said he remembered when they changed to the idea that if you ever confessed Jesus in your life, then that sufficed. But it goes against God's just ways. He's a just God and He's a fair God. My pastor told me that once the Baptists changed their beliefs, so did their congregation's actions. If you believe once you're in, you're in, then you will live like hell.
"For I, the Lord, do not change..." Malachi 3:6
In the Old Testament in Ezekiel33:18 it says, "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity (sin), then he shall DIE in it. (that means hell)
But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will LIVE by them."
And in Ezekiel 33:11 it says, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live."
In Ezekiel 18 it says, "The souls who sin will die," and goes on to say that you cannot get to heaven on your parent's salvation, that each person is responsible for themselves.
In the New Testament, in Matthew 10:22 it says, "but it is the one who has ENDURED to the end who will be saved." (This seems the opposite of being saved at some point and then turning your back on God. He wants us to ENDURE to the end.)
It says in Matthew 19: 16 - 17, "And behold, one came to Him (Jesus) and said, 'Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?' And He said to him, 'Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS." (God makes covenants; you do your part and He will do His.)
It says in Mark 9:43, "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire." (Again, the inference is stumbling can send you to hell.)
In Mark 13:13 it says, "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has ENDURED to the end who will be saved." (It's not easy; it's not greasy grace.)
In Mark 16, Jesus tells them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel (good news that He saves) to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved, but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. And these SIGNS will accompany those who have believed, in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, if they drink any deadly poison it shall not hurt them, and they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (So you can see, there are actions when people believe. So if they are truly saved, there will be actions showing they are saved. You cannot be a Christian in name only with God. Beliefs have evidence.)
In Timothy 4:16, it says, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; PERSEVERE in these things; for as you DO THIS you will insure SALVATION both for yourself and those who hear you." (Once again, there is no greasy grace here, you have to be careful.)
In Hebrews 3:6 it says, "but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, IF we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope FIRM until the end."
Hebrews 3:11-14 says after talking about disobedient people, "They shall not enter My rest. Take care brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, IF we hold fast the beginning of our assurance FIRM until the end."
And later in verses 18&19, "And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who were DISOBEDIENT? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of UNBELIEF. Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall throught following the same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 5:9 - "and having been made perfect, He became to all those who OBEY him, the source of eternal salvation."
I think you get the idea. It's simple but it's not easy. Salvation is a gift, we do not earn it. But we do have to keep His commandments to "enter His rest." We have to obey Him. We can't just make a profession some time in our lives and then live like hell. God is a just God. It wouldn't be fair to the ones that have obeyed. God is merciful. It says he desires that no one go to hell. But there are 3 votes. The devil has voted for hell, God has voted for heaven, and you have the deciding vote. You have to keep His commandments. And I don't think people gain and lose their salvation all day long. I think it's that He meant not to turn your back on God.
Anyway.
I don't know where Whitney is. Or Elvis. Only God knows. But it's too late for them. They are gone. But you're not. You still have your vote.
What will it be?
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