The Ballestero Blog

You Say That You Want to Go To Heaven? I’m Really Not Convinced.

You say to me that you are an Apostolic Pentecostal. To me, that means you have repented of your sins and have been baptized by immersion in Jesus Name, and have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues. If this is true, surely Heaven must be on your mind!

So then, if that is who you are, then we need to talk a bit. The reasons I want to talk to you are because of what I have been hearing and seeing lately.

You’ve Been Missing Church.

First of all, I hear that you’ve not been very faithful to your regular church services. How come? What’s the matter? Why is it easy for you to miss church? Why do you put your soul in jeopardy? You must not be very serious about being saved.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

You don’t or won’t come to church faithfully, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Love Sports More than You Love God.

They tell me that you miss a lot of church, yet you faithfully go to ball games and sporting events. Now that really bothers me. Why are you so willing to sit in an arena full of sinners and let your heart beat as one with theirs, yet you don’t let your heart, as a saint, beat as one with them for Him in the church? You know better.

You can quote all the stats of the major teams. You know their names, their rankings, their coaches and when they play next. Yet, you struggle to remember and quote scriptures. Doesn’t that tell you where your heart really is? You must not be very serious about being saved.

2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

You are wrapped up in sports more than church, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Don’t Have A Teachable Spirit.

I see that you question every standard in the church and argue almost every point of doctrine. It’s like you want to change the whole church to suit you.

Some around you get the opinion that you think you know more than your teachers. That you are right and everyone else is wrong. You don’t seem to be teachable. You must not be very serious about being saved.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

You are don’t want anyone to teach you because you know it all, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Don’t Pay Your Tithes.

You complain that you can’t afford to pay tithes. That makes me really disappointed in you. The bottom line is that you cannot afford not to pay tithes.

Your argument doesn’t hold much water though when everyone sees that you continue to spend your money on pleasures and life comforts. Don’t you know it’s dangerous to rob God? You know better than to walk around with God’s money in your pocket. You must not be very serious about being saved.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

You don’t or won’t pay tithes faithfully, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Prayer Life Is Dead.

How come I haven’t been seeing you in the prayer room very much before church? Your soul needs God’s touch every day. You must not be very serious about being saved.

Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

You don’t or won’t even visit the prayer room, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Don’t Worship Anymore.

Your responses in the services to worship and preaching lately have not been good at all. That is a sign that you are spiritually sick.

Worship is everyone’s business. Especially yours. It is a requirement, you know. Don’t tell me that it is not your nature to be demonstrative. When you were born again, you were given a new nature, use it.

Besides, you show plenty of emotion playing a ball game, catching a big fish, and even celebrating a birthday party. Yet, you sit mummified at church. What’s the deal? You must not be very serious about being saved.

Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

You don’t or won’t worship, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You’ve Been Dressing Just Like The World.

Whatever the fad or fashion of the world is, you are so quick to follow. No one can see much difference between you or them.

Your willingness to sacrifice your modesty for fashion is sad. It seems that you desire to look more like movie stars than to be God’s light in this dark world. You have shown no visible testimony. We were counting on you.

On Facebook and other social media you post pictures of yourself and your family that should have embarrassed you as a Pentecostal. But it didn’t. It embarrasses the rest of us though. You seem to have lost your shame. You know better.

Holiness is not only on the inside. What is in the heart soon shows on the outside. And, what’s in your heart is definitely showing. Evidently, your love for style and fashion of this world has made you ignore Scripture about modest apparel. You must not be very serious about being saved.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

When women cut their hair, put on make up, jewelry or wear pants, mini-skirts and shorts, and still say that want to go to heaven? I’m not convinced.

When men grow their hair long, wear shorts and tank tops, drink alcohol and get tattoos, and still say that want to go to heaven. I’m not convinced.

You Are Dating A Sinner.

Why would you be so foolish as to play the same game Samson did? He lost and you will too. The very fact that you are attracted to ungodly thinking people doesn’t say much in your favor. Why are you willing to risk everything? You must not be very serious about being saved.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

You love the people who love what God hates, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m not convinced.

You Are Looking At Someone Else, And You’re Already Married.

How can you even think God is ok with your conduct? You must not be very serious about being saved.

Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

You have exhibited the spirit of adultery, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m not convinced.

You Let You Job Keep You Out Of Church.

You and I both know how the devil works. Why do you ignore that? No job is worth putting your soul in jeopardy over. If you really wanted to be in church you would find a way, even if it means changing jobs.

Don’t let your ‘need’ for money drive you away from God or His house. You must not be very serious about being saved.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

You are spending your life chasing the dollar, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m not convinced.

You Have Become Hateful.

Your mean spirit has caused you to spread hurtful rumors about others. You seem to be filled with bitterness and refuse to let it all go or put it under the blood. Why do you seem to delight holding grudges?

You have caused discord and division in the house of God. God’s Kingdom only thrives on unity and you are destroying that. You are hindering revival. God is not happy. You must not be very serious about being saved.

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

You cause division and discord in the house of God, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Are Rebellious, And No Different To God Than A Witch Doctor.

So you don’t want anyone telling you what to do or how to live? You would readily believe what you want, and would change churches rather than submit and obey. You must not be very serious about being saved.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

You have lived in rebellion against the man of God for years, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Are In Love With Hollywood.

All you seem to talk about is your favorite movie or what you watched last night. Movie Night must be the in-thing now for you right now.

You know all the actors in each sitcom. And, you don’t seem to be too careful about telling it either. Your love for entertainment is so strong. I don’t see you easily turning around very easily.

Would you be comfortable sitting there watching your movie with Jesus sitting beside you? I don’t think so. You must not be very serious about being saved.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

You love Hollywood more than God it seems, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Don’t Even Respond To Altar Calls.

When God gives you a chance to recover yourself and to be restored, you make no move.

The altar is not only where you got saved, it’s where you stay saved. You and I both know that a good old-fashioned praying through would solve all of your spiritual and emotional problems. Why then do you wait?

Your refusal or reluctance to consecrate and pray through is a sign that you are not thinking about heaven. You’ve been avoiding the altar. You must not be very serious about being saved.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

You don’t or won’t pray through, and you still say you want to go to heaven? I’m really not convinced.

You Say, “God Already Knows My Heart, Why Do I Have To Convince A Preacher?

Don’t even go there. To even ask that, you must not be very serious about being saved.

If your pastor makes it to heaven, he must to give an account of you before the Lord. God will ask him about you. You really do need a pastor to be saved. You cannot make it on your own.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

 

You Must Change.

If you want to go to heaven, it is time right now to start doing something about it. You know what to do. Give God a life that He can bless. He wants to bless you, so give Him the chance.

It is not too late to turn around. Be a light in this dark world. Let your light shine unto them. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Live for God with all your heart.

Don’t even think about compromising anymore. Don’t keep cutting corners with God. Get in church like never before.

But, don’t try to get back where you used to be or you’ll wind up again where you are right now. Get more than you’ve ever had. Really pray through this time. Be filled with the Spirit.

If you will pray through and change, and say you want to go to heaven, I’ll really be convinced.