Salted With Fire! Series

You see, there are so many churches and different types of preaching and singing. Then there so many TV programs out there. We are not to pass judgment on anyone who does God’s work contrary to our liking and style and consider us great because Jesus needs them all. There is no elitism in following Jesus.

They had been arguing among themselves as to who is the greatest. I need to climb the ladder. It is okay if you are in the second position, but I need to be on the top. Jesus is teaching them that it is quite opposite to the life we are to live with the view of eternity. Then Jesus launches into a series of statements about greatness how God sees it, having the child sitting on his lap.

Mark 9:42-43 If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

Mark 9:45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples, who are on their way to heaven, quarrelling about who is the greatest among them, cautioning them that they can end up in hell after being his disciple if not careful. Mark 9:47-48 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Now, can the cutting off of a hand, foot, or the plucking out of an eye take you to heaven? If anyone would cut them according to the Bible you would still have one left and you can still commit sin with that one hand, foot, and eye. So Jesus is not talking about literal amputation.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. It is not by our works of righteousness that we go to heaven, but by God’s mercy. Therefore do not take it literally.

So what is Jesus saying here? Jesus is deliberately using the most severe language to stress that sin is to be opposed at all costs. To have eyes, hands, and foot is to be complete. It is to have everything in a worldly sense. Jesus is saying, “To be complete in the world’s point of view and then go to hell is worse than to be limited in worldly terms, but enjoy eternal life in heaven.” You see Jesus is addressing greatness but from eternity’s perspective.

SO, WHO WILL BE GREAT IN HEAVEN?

1. Holy lifestyle.

Jesus said those who will be great in heaven are those who lead a holy and pure life here. It is a matter of purity of heart, a person who strives to avoid sin, who lives a limited life in terms of enjoying the wicked pleasures of this world such people will inherit heaven and will be great in eternity. So if you understand the greatness from eternity’s perspective, it will rearrange your lifestyle in this life. How is our life today?