In the city where I took the driving portion of the test for my driver’s license, the building was situated near a lot of one way roads. Every kid I know who took the test there said they were told by the test administrator to turn down a one way road from the wrong direction at least once if not more times. The few who did were automatically failed and had to retake the test. There was no complaining accepted, no excuse and no second chance on that test.
We live in the age of expected chances. “Aw, gimmy another chance please?” your daughter cries as she looks up at you with those big, brown eyes and quivering lips. “Okay,” we say. Magic 1-2-3 Parenting says to give your child three times to do something wrong (few exceptions) and then they receive discipline. Baseball has a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rule. Police sometimes let you off with warnings instead of tickets. Retakes on school tests happen when an individual or class does poorly. We are brought up from our youth accustomed to second chances.
Is it any surprise then that we expect God will give us more than one way or one chance to get to Heaven? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) No ‘man’ human, not even one, can come to the Father but through Jesus. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. )
There is no purgatory or holding place where you ‘pay for your sins’ and then receive your pass to Heaven. No one can pray you into Heaven after you are dead. After death, the body turns to dust in the ground, but the soul receives immediate judgment. The souls of those who are saved will be with the Lord (2Cor. 5:8) and those that are not go to the un-politically correct Hell. I can hear the voices already. "Oh, don’t say that, it’s not nice and it’s very intolerant to suggest that only people who believe like you go to Heaven. Surely a loving God would not do that."
The God who created the entire universe made the rule. No man. Not one. He gave man plenty of opportunities to repent, all the way from Adam until now. Even if we never hear the gospel preached, the very heavens proclaim our God. (Ps. 19:1-4) Rom.
There is no excuse accepted. There is no second chance. You and I decide our ‘fate’, ‘destiny’ or future. One life to live, one life in which to make the choice: Jesus and Heaven, or not. One way to Heaven- eternal life with the Lord. Only one way- through Jesus Christ alone.