Not all “Christians” will go to Heaven. It’s a sobering thought. You might have heard that all you had to do was be baptized, say a prayer, or call yourself a Christian. While that might be good, that won’t get you into heaven.

Scripture says “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14). “For many are invited, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). But the statement that strikes me the most is when Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Did you catch the last part? Now I know what you might be thinking, anyone who has spent any time in church has heard that you can’t buy your way into heaven by doing good works. You can only get there by having faith in Jesus Christ. You’re right. But the Bible says that you will recognize a Christian by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:16). In other words, it’s not enough just to say that Jesus is Lord, you have to live like He’s your Lord. You have to do what He said and do as He did because He doesn’t want fans. He wants followers – those who will carry out his kingdom on earth.

It’s very easy for us to say we believe and give ourselves the title of “Christian” but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t live like one. James said that “faith without works is dead” (James 1:26). Sadly that describes too many of us. We would like to think that when we said “we believe,” we were given a free ticket into Heaven and could go on living just as we had before; but it’s not that easy. We are to reflect Christ in all that we think, say, and do, and just as Christ did the Father’s will, we are to do His will as well.

So, how are we supposed to know God’s will or what He wants us to do?

The Bible is very clear about this: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep one-self from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) We are also called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the sick among other things. Jesus did these things and being his follower we should too. (Matthew 25: 35-36).

The alternative to going to heaven is a scary one. It isn’t a place that I would wish on my worst enemies, but the truth is that we are all destined to go there unless our faith is more than just words. Our faith must be one of action.

We don’t have to venture far to be active in our faith. The need is everywhere. We are surrounded by the orphaned and widowed and there are people all around us who are hurting, hungry, and naked. With today’s technology, it has never been easier to help those in need. We can volunteer our time or resources by financially giving online to organizations helping people around the world or in our own communities. We can get on our knees and pray and we can spread the word without ever leaving our couch.

We are running out of excuses. My faith is one of action, I hope that your faith is too.