Benediction - Scripture

Scriptural Reference:
The Good news
13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. (DRV) "
Matthew 7:13

31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.
Matthew 24:31 (DRV)

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Luke 3:6 (DRV)

77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins.
Luke 1:77 (DRV)

8 And I say to you: Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.
Luke 12:8 (DRV)

11 For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.
Romans 14:11 (DRV)

The Bad news
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:12 (DRV)

42 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:42 (DRV)

51 And shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:51 (DRV)

Reflection:
In a televised debate Cardinal Pell was asked by the staunchly and overly devout atheist Richard Dawkins if Atheists could go to Heaven. Pell sadly only got half the answer right when he said yes. What he missed was the tag on question "will there be atheists in Heaven?".

The answer to this would be a resounding no. The logic for this is three fold.

1) How can someone enter a place they reject exists.

As an Atheist the individual holds to the base principle that after death there is nothing. So if they should find themselves at the threshold of heaven they may yet complain that it was just the fading dreams and visions of their brain as it slowly died.

Yet if they should be able to come to terms with the reality that Heaven had become a tangible reality, they would then be forced to make a choice. Reject it still and turn their back on it. Or accept it as the only true alternative to the nothingness they had held fervently all their lives.

2) How can an Atheist who has rejected God enter a place created and ruled by God, without first accepting God on Gods terms.

Heaven as it is depicted and explained in the Bible is the place where God meets Man face to face. There are no longer any walls, conditions or barriers to separate them. God has made it clear that this is his greatest desire. To give the human race plenty of time to make the choice so vital for their eternity. After such a choice is made, to either enter in or walk away from the gift of Salvation given freely through Grace.

So the question would be asked of the Atheist as to what would they do if given the choice. Enter and accept the terms and conditions as set down by God the creator of the Universe and all that is. Or reject the authority and take whatever comes to them. There may be many who would willing see the benefits of entering Heaven on Gods terms. While there will be many who might try and lie their way into Heaven only to find that the God that rules Heaven also can read the hearts and minds of mortal man.

3) To enter into Heaven one needs to be "Born Again" as a Christian. So yes, an Atheist can go to Heaven, but you won't find Atheists in Heaven.

So we come down to the very basic principle of entrance into Heaven. As we are told that only by the very name of Jesus the Christ are we saved. We can not buy our way in. We can not save up good deeds done on earth to impress our way in. There wont be a number of entrance doors for those who have followed such false gods as to be found in Hinduism, Islam or any other number of man made idles.

So the brave and somewhat devoutly stout Atheist stands at Heavens Gates and is asked one last time if they accept Jesus the Christ as their Lord and Saviour. If they forsake all their self worth and free will to the Lord as the one name that will redeem them before God. Their choice of course would be final. Their journey would only take them in one of two final directions. To accept Jesus as Lord of course would lead to entrance through Heavens Gates. While to one last time reject Jesus would only lead to a very long time of pain and separation from God. As expressed in the New Testament as Hell.

Prayer:
Lord I seek to know you,
As my Saviour.,
As my closest friend,
As I make the Pilgrims Journey,
Of the Cross of Calvary.

Be my Moral Compass,
Lead me in your ways of truth,
And guard me from distraction,
So that I may not stray,
From your precious side.

May I live the life that leads,
To your Heavenly Grace,
To a blessed oneness with God,
To those who have gone before,
Into your Glory of Salvation.

Amen

Heavens Gate
HOME SCRIPTURE POETRY	Scriptural Reference: The Good news 13 Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. (DRV) " Matthew 7:13 31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. Matthew 24:31 (DRV) 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:6 (DRV) 77 To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins. Luke 1:77 (DRV) 8 And I say to you: Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. Luke 12:8 (DRV) 11 For it is written: As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God. Romans 14:11 (DRV) The Bad news 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 8:12 (DRV) 42 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42 (DRV) 51 And shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:51 (DRV) Reflection: In a televised debate Cardinal Pell was asked by the staunchly and overly devout atheist Richard Dawkins if Atheists could go to Heaven. Pell sadly only got half the answer right when he said yes. What he missed was the tag on question "will there be atheists in Heaven?". The answer to this would be a resounding no. The logic for this is three fold. 1) How can someone enter a place they reject exists. As an Atheist the individual holds to the base principle that after death there is nothing. So if they should find themselves at the threshold of heaven they may yet complain that it was just the fading dreams and visions of their brain as it slowly died. Yet if they should be able to come to terms with the reality that Heaven had become a tangible reality, they would then be forced to make a choice. Reject it still and turn their back on it. Or accept it as the only true alternative to the nothingness they had held fervently all their lives. 2) How can an Atheist who has rejected God enter a place created and ruled by God, without first accepting God on Gods terms. Heaven as it is depicted and explained in the Bible is the place where God meets Man face to face. There are no longer any walls, conditions or barriers to separate them. God has made it clear that this is his greatest desire. To give the human race plenty of time to make the choice so vital for their eternity. After such a choice is made, to either enter in or walk away from the gift of Salvation given freely through Grace. So the question would be asked of the Atheist as to what would they do if given the choice. Enter and accept the terms and conditions as set down by God the creator of the Universe and all that is. Or reject the authority and take whatever comes to them. There may be many who would willing see the benefits of entering Heaven on Gods terms. While there will be many who might try and lie their way into Heaven only to find that the God that rules Heaven also can read the hearts and minds of mortal man. 3) To enter into Heaven one needs to be "Born Again" as a Christian. So yes, an Atheist can go to Heaven, but you won't find Atheists in Heaven. So we come down to the very basic principle of entrance into Heaven. As we are told that only by the very name of Jesus the Christ are we saved. We can not buy our way in. We can not save up good deeds done on earth to impress our way in. There wont be a number of entrance doors for those who have followed such false gods as to be found in Hinduism, Islam or any other number of man made idles. So the brave and somewhat devoutly stout Atheist stands at Heavens Gates and is asked one last time if they accept Jesus the Christ as their Lord and Saviour. If they forsake all their self worth and free will to the Lord as the one name that will redeem them before God. Their choice of course would be final. Their journey would only take them in one of two final directions. To accept Jesus as Lord of course would lead to entrance through Heavens Gates. While to one last time reject Jesus would only lead to a very long time of pain and separation from God. As expressed in the New Testament as Hell. Prayer: Lord I seek to know you, As my Saviour., As my closest friend, As I make the Pilgrims Journey, Of the Cross of Calvary. Be my Moral Compass, Lead me in your ways of truth, And guard me from distraction, So that I may not stray, From your precious side. May I live the life that leads, To your Heavenly Grace, To a blessed oneness with God, To those who have gone before, Into your Glory of Salvation. Amen