There is only one thing that can get in the way of a person making it to heaven and that is sin.  Sin separates a person from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), resulting in spiritual death.  It goes without saying that immoral living will prevent God from blessing us.  If you want a relationship with God and to be in a position to be blessed by Him in a plurality of ways, and, yet, you are actively engaged in ongoing sin, you need to get out of God’s way by repenting of your sin and begin living a morally upright life.

How you live is important.  I am always amazed that so many doctrines in the religious world imply otherwise.  These doctrines are popular because they allow people to do what they want to do, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, while believing that it does not have much of an impact on their relationship with God.

Any doctrine that gives people a license to sin is a false doctrine.  The Bible teaches, very clearly I might add, that our personal conduct will play a part in determining where we will spend eternity.

 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

On the day of judgment, we will all get the verdict that we deserve, according to the stipulations of the gospel.  I add that last part because I realize that if heaven is our verdict, we do not deserve that.  Heaven is attained because of the mercy and grace of our God.  Nevertheless, the gospel reveals to us how we are to live our lives, and if we live accordingly, we are promised eternal life, and if we fail to live according to the word of God, we are promised eternal damnation.  On the day of judgment, we will get what we have been promised, or as Paul said, “what is due” for what we have done.  This makes how we live our lives very important.

The responsibility to live morally upright lives falls on our own shoulders and no one else’s.   God’s word tells us repeatedly that we have a personal obligation to live according to the moral standard of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)
¹ Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit…

Colossians 3:5–8 (ESV)
⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away…

1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

It is clear how God wants us to live morally, and, in the end, we all will give an account to God (2 Corinthians 5:10).  God wants to dwell among us and be our God and Father (2 Corinthians 6:16-18), but immoral living will get in His way of doing so.  If there is sin in your life, get out of God’s way and enjoy the blessings of His fellowship (1 John 1:7).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.