Salvation is not repeating a little prayer saying you believe in Jesus, then going on your merry way to live your life in any way you want. Salvation is not what you get from growing up in a Christian family or going to a church. If that’s what you think, I highly recommend you read the Gospels, Acts, and apostolic letters again. Then, read them again. 

Salvation means you trust in Christ for your life and are committed to serving Him forever and ever. Many people who think they are saved will wake from the sleep of death to face the wrath of God. Jesus made that clear in one of His early sermons about His Kingdom.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus continued to echo that message throughout His earthly ministry.

Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25:44-46

If you wonder whether the word “they” in Revelation 22:5 refers to you, ask yourself why you wonder that. What about your belief and/or behavior would cause you to question whether you will be one of the “they” who are God’s servants who will serve Him forever and ever. Trust me – it’s worth your time now to think about your future in Heaven. When Jesus judges – will you be on the right side or the wrong side?

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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