Entrance Requirements

Mark 1:14-20
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," He said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

To become a member of some “kingdoms” you have to meet stiff requirements. Certain organizations and clubs have rigorous standards of acceptance—social, financial, and sometimes racial. If you aren’t a multi-millionaire, you don’t qualify. Elite universities require nearly perfect SAT scores and high school grades. Corporations demand impeccable credentials before filling executive positions. Very bluntly, they don’t want just anyone. Their standards are designed to keep people out.

The good news is that the entrance requirements to the kingdom of God are not that way. They can be met by anyone who opens the door of his life to the gentle knock of the Savior, and by faith lets Him come in. That’s because He met the standards of God’s holiness for us by His flawless character and obedience to God.

The gospel writer Mark wrote that soon after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, Jesus began to deliver this message: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (1:15). Jesus was referring to Himself, His work, and the gospel. He was God among men. Soon He would die as the sacrifice for our sins. We can be born into God’s kingdom, become members of His family, by receiving Jesus as our Savior.

The good news is also that every one of us—regardless of our social status, ethnic background, poverty, or past behavior—is offered admittance into God’s kingdom. It’s simply a matter of trusting in Jesus. That’s it. No more. Jesus likened it to having the faith of a little child (Mark 10:15).

If you’ve been trying to guarantee your entrance into heaven by piling good works on top of your good family name and magna cum laude graduate school transcript, forget it. Trust in Jesus. Receive His gift of salvation, and you’ll have met every entrance requirement to membership in God’s kingdom. —Dave Egner.

bottom line: Entrance into heaven is received, not earned.

soul journey