To inherit the Kingdom of God

Many say it is difficult to be a Christian. Some even say it is impossible to be a Christian. Let us look at two cases which I have personally encountered. These two cases involve two so-called Christians with ancestral-worship background.

Case one

This person whim I called Chan (not his real name) is about 75 years of age. I am not sure when he became a Christian. What I do know is what he told me. He said the moment he became a Christian his life was completely changed. He became extremely zealous for the Lord, albeit in his own way. He became very critical about pastors and Local Churches. According to him, he has not met one genuine (called) pastor yet. All pastors fail to enter the narrow gate. He often quotes what Jesus said: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Becaus narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matt. 7:13, 14. NKJV). Almost all pastors choose the broad way that leads to destruction because any broad way will not offend Church member. No pastor, in his right mind, would like to see members leave for another Church. Furthermore, Chan has not found any Local Church with the "right" way of worship yet. He is very critical about the type of music. According to him, no drum (in any form) and no electric guitar should be used because these musical instruments are too noisy. He prefers piano only. As a result, he is in the habit of "Church hopping." It is difficult to find a Local Church that uses piano only. Perhaps you may find a few small home-Churches. As a result, he would only enter a Church after the worship is over. He seems to forget how David worshiped the Lord according to the Bible. David said: "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals!" (Ps. 150:3 - 5, emphasis added). It does not sound quiet to me! He himself admits that before he became a Christian he was extremely hot tmpered. There were times he used like "shut up" or "get out." when the slightest thing irritates him. He said many years back he even chased his own father out of his home with a meat chopper. Of course he did not actually harm him. But the problem is, he is still extremely hot tempered after becoming a Christian. He is my long-time close friend and I am usually ready to put up with his strange behavior. Recently, we were having breakfast together and we talked about a common doctor friend (a wealthy Christian) who owns a luxurious house (a "five-star" house with Jacuzzi in the master bedroom) by the sea near here. This doctor friend is working in another country and so he asked Chan to keep an eye on the major renovation of the house. For his help, this doctor friend frequently give him gifts. I believe this doctor friend becomes lover of the things of the world. Before he went to work in another country this doctor and I were prayer partners. During that time, Chan was not among our circle of friends yet. John said: "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). I don't know what happened, but when I brought out the subject of frugal lifestyle of a Christian, Chan suddenly asked me to shut up and furiously walked away. Till now I have not seen him again yet. It looks like after years of being a Christian he fails to walk in the Spirit and also fails to bear fruit.

What the Bible says about Christians walking in the Spirit

Paul said: "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the fesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:16 - 21, emphasis added).

What the Bible says about Christians bearing fruit

Paul further said: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have rucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22 - 25, emphasis added). Note that I have emphasized three aspects of the fruit. But it does not mean that a person has these aspects (or the lack of it) only and not the other six aspects of the fruit. It only means that these three aspects are more apparent in his life. In actual fact, all nine aspects of the fruit (or the lack of it) are a complete whole and cannot be separated.

What the Bible says about someone who is hasty in his words

A person who does not have self-control, gentleness, and kindness is usually hasty in his words. Solomon says: "Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him" (proverbs 29:20). A fool usually says things that comes in his mind without so much as considering whether he should say it or not. He is worldly and is of the flesh. He is therefore hasty in his words, without realizing that once the words come out of his mouth cannot be withdrawn! Paul said: "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24). In other words, anyone who fails to crucify the flesh does not belong to Christ. In short he is not a Christian!

Case Two

This person whom I called Chong (not his real name) is nearly 80 years old. He became a Christian recently. Many people (including myself) have been praying for his salvation. In fact I have asked a prayer meeting of a Church to pray for his salvation. Our prayer is answered. God opened doors for him to meet a pastor (a lady) through a relative (a cousin) called Wing (also not his real name). This person is under persecution from his mother who is an idol worshiper. He promises that he would not become a Christian as long as his mother is still alive in order to avoid trouble. But the Gospels tell us that when a person is called, he leaves everything to follow. Exanples are Philip and Nathanael. Jesus said: "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26, NLB). Chong faces many obstacles on the road of his salvation. Here are some of them:

Obstacle 1

Chong's wife is a person full of infirmities - physically, mentally and spiritually. His wife is fully dependent on him and I don't think she can live without him. He makes every dicision for her and he cannot go anywhere without her. But somehow she had made up her mind not to become a Christian. Once Chong brought her to a Church but she demanded to go home immediately. Chong would not like to offend her and so he stays away from the Church. The lady pastor could not give counsel in this area of need. I advised him to read the Bible at home. Surely his wife will not disallow him to do that.

Obstacle 2

Chong himself is not very healthy and he takes all sorts of pills and capsules daily. Chong's eyes give him a lot of trouble. He had cataract in both eyes and operated on. He also had a cornea transplant recently. His eye doctor advised him not to drive at night. If there is a Church meeting or any social function at night someone have to drive him there. Even reading the Bible is no easy task because of his poor eyesight. A Christian needs to read the Bible daily. When a Christian reads and studies the Bible God speaks to him. In a Church meeting a man (the preacher) speaks of him. Therefore I believe reading and studying the Bible is more important than Church meeting. If Chong is keen enough to grow in his new found Christian faith, he can buy a Bible with large print. Alternatively, he can listen to the narration of the entire Bible in tapes or CD's. There is actually no excuse for not reading or hearing some people reading the Bible for us with modern technologies.

Obstacle 3

Relatives who are able to help Chong in transport at night are all idol worshipers. Because of this, Chong feels obliged to please them by going to pray in their temple especially during religious bestivals. Furthermore, this pleases Chong's wife as well because she refuses to go to Church.

Obstacle 4

The lady pastor teaches Chong strange Christian doctrine. As a result, Chong believes as long as hes is not water baptized he can go to temple to worship idols. So, he keeps on going to the temple until he is ready to be baptized. I once told him that being a Christian he should not pray in the temple of his friends and relatives. He replied that he is not a Christian yet because he had not been baptized yet. How sad! His pastor should explain this to him. This is committing spritual adultery. The Bible is vey clear concerning this. Jesus said: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Peter, talking about false teachers, said: "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the later end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true prover: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'" (2 Peter 2:19 - 22).

Obstacle 5

Chong's spiritual growth is greatly hindered. He is like the person in the Parable of the Sower: "A Sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold" (Luke 8:5 - 8). Jesus explained the parable (Luke 8:11 - 15). Let me paraphrase it. The seed is the Word of God. Those fell by the wayside are the ones who hear (like Chong); then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who (also like Chong), when they hear, received the Word with joy; and they have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation (going to temple to worship idol with the unbelieving relatives) fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns (also like Chong) are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Conclusion

I believe both Chan and Chong will inherit the Kingdom of God provided they come to the knowledge of the truth. Also provided they receive the right counseling from an experienced and compassionate pastor (preferably a man). They need to repent of their sins and renew their commitment to follow the Lord whole heartedly irrespective of consequences. The Lord will take care of that.