Heavenly race is a personal thing

Romans 14:10-12, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11: For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12: So then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Heaven is the official abode of the Almighty God, while the earth is for men to dwell (Psalm 115:16) and prepare for the Kingdom of God. Man returning to heaven is conditional in the sense that he must be properly indoctrinated about the life there and also be willing to live according to its culture. The original plan of God at creation was for the earth to be an extension of heaven — a colony. Life on earth would have been just as it is in heaven. Unfortunately, our first parents, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God and committed sin. This made man be sent out from the Garden of Eden and by implication God’s presence. For this, a man came to earth to fend for himself.

Despite this fall, God still loves man, so, He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ to reconcile man to Himself. Jesus Christ came and reintroduced the heaven kingdom culture into the earth and wants all men to live by it, so that, at the end of their lives, they can go back to God to give an account of their stewardship on earth. So, any man that wants to go to heaven must first accept Jesus Christ and His standard.

Pastor Muoka on motorbike leading other pastors during one of the church’s evangelism programmes<br />

It was hard for the disciples to accept Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life, which gives eternal life in heaven. Many who found the teaching strange left Him, but the apostles remained because only Jesus Christ has the word of eternal life. The race for entering heaven is purely individual. It will be an unfortunate experience in the end, if you as a person follow the multitude to do the wrong thing, especially rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ. No one answers for the other. Whatever you do here on earth must be accounted for in heaven before the judgment seat of God. We must be mindful of what we do and continuously work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Despite all the exploits in his first and second missionary journeys, Apostle Paul expressed the fear of losing his crown in 1Corinthians 9: 23-27 saying: “And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24: Know ye not that they, which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So, run that ye may obtain. 25: And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Apostle Paul was a great soul preacher but was concerned with his crown in heaven having expressed his assurance of salvation. He was also mindful of his actions by keeping his body under subjection, so that, he will not lose his salvation and be a castaway.

The word castaway was translated from the Greek work adokimos meaning disapproved. Apostle Paul was writing of the service that will earn him both a place in heaven and a crown. The reward of service is that they that preach to many people to repent and live a righteous life shall shine as the stars forever (Daniel 12:3).

Following Paul’s example, every Christian running this heavenly race must keep the flesh in complete control to avoid derailment. Although Paul preached to many people to repent, he was also mindful of his crown and salvation. Once you are converted, you are to take your own decision whether to make heaven or not. You are not to follow the crowd because God deals with everyone on an individual basis. For this, the Bible warns in Exodus 23:1-2: “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2: Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.”

We should be mindful of our actions and inaction with our creator whom we will give an account of our lives on earth at the end of our journey earth. The pastor or evangelist that preached to you and you repented will not stand for you on judgment day. God created all of us separately and differently. He gave us the conscience to make choices of what is good and what is evil. The message of salvation has been preached to everyone on earth and it is left for the people to choose Jesus Christ for the eternal life that He offers or not. It is left for you to make your individual choice. Luke 14:16-20 says: “Then said he unto him, a certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, come; for all things are now ready. 18: And they all with one consent began to make excuses. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of land, and I need to go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19: And another said, I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20: And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” The invitation was made to many, but they individually started giving one reason or the other to decline to attend, but at the end some other people were invited in their place and the hall was filled to its capacity. One is free to decline the divine invitation to salvation and to heaven. There must be people to serve God; there must be people, the church, to wed our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns in glory to rapture the saints.

Revelation 22:12-14 says: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. 14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

This is a clear warning that whatsoever any man chooses there is a reward awaiting him. The reward of eternal life is either in heaven or in hell fire. The will of God is that everyone should make heaven at the end of his life on earth. Anyone who decides otherwise is entirely on his or her own choice and the reward will be given accordingly.

One thing is clear God is coming quickly to give everyone his or her reward. Where do you belong? The choice is yours!

Testimony Of The Lord’s Doing
23 Years Imprisonment Ends On Contact With Chosen Handbill
“WHEN the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, they were like them that dream, then was our mouth filled with laughter and our mouth with singing,” Ps 126v1-2.

The above Bible quotation depicts my condition and that is why I am testifying. I am Brother Nnamdi Nwaeji. I am from Imo State.

My testimony is that in 1999, I had a land case with my uncle. He wanted to forcefully take over my late father’s land from me. In the confrontation that ensued, l cut off his hand with a cutlass. The police was invited in and I was arrested and taken to the State CID, Owerri, from there l was taken to court and from the court to the prison.

I was in prison from 1999 to 2022 (23 years) and nobody visited me. However, l did not know that God was there for me.

As God would have it, members of different church denominations were coming to see us. Most times they brought us food and clothes. Inmates always looked forward to receiving these items. While this went on, I craved freedom.

However, when members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement visited, they did not come with food, rather they brought handbills. While other inmates were saying they were tired of collecting papers, I collected the one given to me with joy and went into my corner and prayed with it for my freedom. My prayers attracted the attention of other inmates who looked at me with disdain and said: “It is like this one has gone insane.” After the prayer, l tapped the handbill on my chest three times saying: “l am blessed.”

On the night of that same day, I dreamt that a man in white apparel visited me and said: “You will be freed soon.” The next day a group of human rights activists visited the prison and mentioned my name to the warders. They demanded that I should be set free. The warders did as they were directed and I was called to gather my things and go home.

Praise the Lord, the prison gate was opened for me and I was set free. From the prison, I started asking people how to locate The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement. When I eventually got to the premises of the church, service was going on and I joined them. I also gave a testimony of how I was set free there.