Strive for Heaven In 2011

Every day that I commute home from work, I pass this church that has a sign outside where they put catchy little phrases. Now it boasts a little rhyme that says "Strive for Heaven in 2011."

And, honestly, it irks me.

Maybe I am reading too much into that little sign, but to me, it is saying "You have to strive to get to Heaven. You have to work to get there. You have to do it. You." And there is nowhere in the Bible that says that.

I don't know about you, but I can't get through everything that I have to do in a day, much less get myself to Heaven. I am far from perfect, which is what you and I and all those other people who drive by that sign need to be to get into Heaven: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

However.

However, there is Someone who did the work for us. Who was perfect for us. Who came to the earth as a tiny little babe for the express purpose of dying just to get us to Heaven if we put our faith in Him. See, we get to Heaven, not by striving for it, but by grace through faith. As Saint Paul put it, For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:7-9 And what a gift that is -- can you think of a better gift than eternal life?

So I think a better quote for the sign at that church would be "You are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus." It might not rhyme, but it's right.