[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/Aug/2025]
Happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Matthew 5 v3 [Good News Bible]
These are the opening words of the famous Sermon on the Mount. We are so familiar with the teachings of Jesus that it is hard for us to understand how radical they were. The people of that day would naturally have expected the kingdom of heaven (God’s kingdom) to belong to those who most closely obeyed the laws of Moses, like the Pharisees, not to those who struggled and often failed to follow these laws.
Even today, those who believe in life after death tend to assume that people who have led a reasonably good life will go to heaven while the wicked will end up in hell. We need to remember the story Jesus told of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not wicked like other people and especially the tax collector, who worked for the hated Roman government and was probably dishonest. The tax collector just asked God to have mercy on him, a sinner. Jesus said that the tax collector was the one who pleased God.
Imagine I died and at the gates of heaven the gatekeeper said: “Why should I let you in?”
I might be tempted to say: “I have been a churchgoer all my life and have done my best to lead a moral life and help other people.”
I believe they would say: “That’s not enough. If you want to get to heaven by your own efforts you must be perfect. I know all the times you have said and done things that have hurt people and even your secret judgemental thoughts. Sorry, but I can’t let you in.”
Instead, I hope I would say: “I know I don’t deserve to enter heaven, but Jesus is my Saviour and I am longing to see him face to face.”
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Peace Be With You by Michael Goble
Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © Helen Ruffhead