Jesus said, "Forbear the little children, and do not forbid them to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 19:14.  We need to recognize that Jesus loves little children and if they, being young and impressionable, pass from this life, they always enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

"To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" James 4:17.  There is a time when we come to the knowledge of what sin is and how to avoid it.  Prior to that age, children are innocent before God and "of such is the kingdom of heaven."  The same is true for those who are mentally challenged, who do not know right from wrong before God.  Jesus said, "...unto whom much is given, of him shall be much required" Luke 12:48.  Likewise, a minister who is well-versed in the Word of God has a much greater responsibility before God than one who has very little knowledge of God's Word.

The thief on the cross, crucified next to Jesus for his crimes, cried out at one point and asked Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom" Luke 23:42.  Jesus, seeing his heart was receptive of Him, as being Savior of the world, and knowing that he sorrowed for his sins, said to the thief, "Verily I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43. 

That thief didn't know much about spiritual things, no doubt, but in his desperation, out there dying on that cross, he had the heightened spiritual sense to know that Jesus was the Savior of the world.  Jesus truly saved Him at that moment, without requiring him to be baptized, without requiring that he attend church somewhere for 20 years, without requiring that he provide a certain length of service to the Lord.  We can see in this very example that our works cannot save us, for the thief on the cross had no works to demonstrate to the Lord.

Jesus taught, "Enter in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many go into it; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life and few will find it" Matthew 7:13-14.

Are you taking the strait path?  Are you taking what is most often the more difficult road to travel; or have you taken the broad, most popular, often easy and carefree road in your spiritual walk?  Sure, lying is often the easy way out.  Yes, we all like the most comfortable, luxurious road, favor of people, to be esteemed in this world; however, is anything, anything worth forfeiting your eternal soul for, and possibly deceiving many around you for?  I say, nothing is worth being separated from God. 

Paul said, "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38-39.  Many people equate these precious sayings of Paul, who suffered much peril during his missionary journeys, with the concept that sin can't separate us from the Love of God.  Paul was actually talking about perils, as he wrote these things, not self-willed souls who want to indulge in sin and depart from the will of God.  In the preceding verse 35 of the same chapter, he expounds, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?" Romans 8:35.  Many, who want to authorize their sins, take on these precious scriptures as a "covering for sin," saying, "God will never leave me no matter what I do."

Jesus also said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven.  Many shall say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works?'  I will profess to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work iniquity'" Matthew 7:21-23.  Isn't the message obvious here?  Many who did great works at some point in their lives, ended up a shambles spiritually.  Because their hearts were not with God, even though they seemed to be doing great things in the world for God, Jesus said, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work iniquity."   The Word says, "...man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. 

Those who choose, in this brief moment of life (compared to eternity), to follow their own pernicious ways, will soon find out which path they truly walked and, against all argument and excuse, Jesus will say, being true to His Word, "Depart from me, you who work iniquity; I never knew you."

Are you doing "good works," while there is yet evil in your heart?  Are you deceiving yourself today?  You might be thinking, "I am much greater than the thief on the cross, and I do a lot for God, so I will surely make heaven."  Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" Matthew 7:15.  We can look around us and see plenty of those today.  "If you know to do good, but do it not, you are in sin" James 4:17.  False prophets know the Word of God, they just don't follow it's teachings.  No one will escape the just judgment of God, nevertheless.

The Word of God bears witness that there will be many on the wrong path on judgment day, who have conditioned themselves to think they are doing "just great" in the eyes of God.  What will Jesus say to you when you stand before Him on that day?  I trust it will be, "Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord" Matthew 25:21.  God bless you.