A Promise to Ponder Vol. 1, Issue 11

Ephesians 2:9 - Not of works, lest any man should boast.

   Once again no definitions are needed for this verse. I do not know of a more clear verse in the Bible. I hear people all the time say that they have been good people and that they should make it to heaven. This verse states that there is NOTHING we can do to earn our way to heaven.

   The first three words of this verse tell what he is saying, the last five tell us why. We cannot work our way to heaven because it would give cause to say, “Look at what I did! I’m such a good person.” or it would give cause to say, “Wow! that’s all you did. Man I was much better than you I bet I’ll have a bigger mansion.” This is called boasting. Boasting is a sin, God is sinless and will not, nor can He by His nature, allow sin in His presence. So this fact alone makes it impossible to earn our way to Heaven where God lives. Think about it for a second, we work our way to heaven and are able to boast; which is sin remember; about all we have done to get there, God comes over and says “I’m sorry but I cannot allow sin into Heaven and because you have sinned you must be forever thrown into Hell. You were good on Earth but now you messed up.”

   So what’s the promise? We don’t have to bear the burden of earning our way to Heaven, it’s paid. WOW! A free trip to live with Almighty God in Heaven and all we have to do is place our faith in Jesus to take us there. I must admit I definitely like God’s plan better than my own. Here God puts it in black and white we are not responsible for Heaven God is, and guess what, He is and has been faithful enough to hold up His end of the bargain. Now that’s a Promise to Ponder!