Are you going to heaven in pieces?

James said, “to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Some folks have the mistaken idea that sin is something you do that you shouldn’t. It could also be something you don’t do that you should. Theologians call these undone acts of obedience “sins of omission.”

There is a Japanese legend about a very godly man who died and went to Heaven. A heavenly guide was taking him around the Holy City, and he was astounded at all that he saw. It was more beautiful than he had heard or read; more perfect than he could ever have imagined. The streets were gold; jewels glimmered in the light that never subsided. There was music and praise and celebration and joy everywhere he looked. As he walked farther, he came to what appeared to be a little shop. Inside, there was row upon row upon row of what looked to be dried mushrooms! As he looked closer, he saw they were not mushrooms at all...but human ears. “What does this mean?” he asked his guide. “Why are these here?” The guide said, “These ears belonged to people on earth who worshipped God and listened to His precepts, but never did anything about what they heard. Their bodies went to Hell, and only their ears got to Heaven.” Certainly we do not go to heaven “in pieces.” But the point is well illustrated. We are to be doers of the Word – not merely hearers only.