Is Heaven possible through your own efforts? Recently, in a devotional that focused on Luke, chapters 16-17, a reflection question was posed: What is so appealing to people about believing that they can get to heaven through their own efforts?

How about you? Does it comfort you to believe your works could determine your final destination for all eternity, or does that idea scare you? Or maybe you don’t care, or you don’t believe in an afterlife.

Let’s look at the idea of a works-based salvation. A person who believes that works done can secure a place in heaven is deceived and carries the burden of doing good enough and being good enough.

Jesus tells the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16. Perhaps the rich man thought his riches would help him, but that’s not the point Jesus makes. The point is that he is in Hell, pleading with Abraham to send the beggar for a drop of water!

Why is Abraham referenced in the story? The Bible tells us in verse 16:22a,

“‘The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.’”

Then later in verses 23 & 24, referencing the rich man, Jesus says,

“‘In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”

Abraham was in heaven because he believed God when he was on earth and was declared righteous by God (Romans 4:3). And now, Abraham’s the one the rich man could see from his place of torment with the beggar by his side.

Jesus responds with 5 truths:

• You, the rich man, had good things while on earth.

• Lazarus, the beggar at his gate, received bad things.

• Lazarus, the beggar, is receiving comfort now.

• You are in torment.

• There is a chasm that you can’t cross.

Jesus never backs down from a hard truth.

Perhaps our merciful Lord sent the beggar to the rich man’s gate to illuminate the danger of his soul. He resisted that beggar, and now he is a beggar in Hell. With no water coming, the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family about the place of torment. Abraham tells him that they will not listen.

Why does Abraham say that? Because they had the Scriptures! The writing of Moses and the Prophets was theirs. To choose unbelief, despite all that evidence, made Abraham’s statement true.

The Language of Parables:

Pay attention to parables. Jesus used these kinds of stories to relate to an audience. It doesn’t matter if they are true or only stories. They were included in the Holy Bible, which gives them authentic credibility. Their purpose is to serve as comfort to some and a warning to others.

Their perfect language and precise word choice made Jesus the most excellent storyteller. All spoken with love. All have a point. Each is a bullseye to the heart of any listener.

Hell as a Choice

Luke 13:28-30 has one description of hell. Also, a picture of a feast in heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reveals how God views those who are last on earth. They are given first place in heaven. Jesus is not teaching that all poor people go to heaven. Nor is he saying all rich people go to hell. The contrast is between two real places: Heaven and Hell. In our story, the beggar believed, and at his death, he was ushered to Heaven. The choice of the rich man’s unbelief resulted in Hell.

Everybody is not going to heaven. That makes no sense (John 3:3 & 18; Matthew 7:13-14). Before His crucifixion, while in the garden, Jesus asked God the Father if there was any other way. (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42). God spoke, and Jesus suffered for you and for me. If there were any other way, God would not have sent His perfect, sinless Son to die. All people who desire eternal salvation here and in the afterlife enter one way, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So, back to the devotional question at the beginning: What is so appealing to people about believing that they can get to heaven through their own efforts? The simple answer is pride. The Bible says that all people are deceived until they put their faith in Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4). God does not care if you are rich or poor. He is the author of all good things. It is all His. We deceive ourselves if we believe we are self-made, self-determined individuals. We like to think we are in control of our destiny and that we are good.

What we are is humans with a soul, made in God’s image (Genesis 2:27). There are several benefits that God’s image gives to humans. Perhaps the most important is that we are made for a relationship with Him. The dignity of that individual choice is available while alive. It is a choice, and it is for now.

Jesus is Enough

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life. And He is not in a grave. He is alive and at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, I Peter 3:22, Revelation 3:21, Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:33).

Jesus came. Jesus came for you and for me. We do not deserve His offer of forgiveness. But He offers it anyway. We are not on a merit system. The ground is equal at the cross. There is absolutely nothing we can do to get to heaven. Nothing. The way in is a personal, free will choice, by faith in God’s one and only Son, Jesus.

In our story today, one man had every resource, but God wanted only his heart. The other man had absolutely nothing but gave Jesus his heart.

Clearly, Jesus uses the parable to communicate an eternal truth to the audience then and now. Are you listening?

When Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” from the cross, the work was done. John 1:29 declares that Jesus takes away the sin of the world. That was His purpose. He did the work; you decide whether to accept the precious, free gift. There are many verses about what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Enjoy your Bible Treasure Hunt.

I hope today you aren’t believing that anything you do will get you to heaven. Additionally, if you know that Heaven is your eternal home, it is important to share the Gospel with those who need to know.

©Valerie Rumfelt

https://peacewithgod.net/steps/: Where Will Your Eternal Choice Lead You?