Thursday, February 18, 2021
3 Simple Steps to Get to Heaven
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s an old story but it still proves a point. A pastor midway through his sermon asked the question on a warm Sunday morning, “How many of you want to go to heaven when you die?” Everyone raised his hand except one man, obviously asleep. Focusing on the sleeping man, the pastor loudly asked, “How many of you want to go to hell when you die?”
Sensing the change of tone in his voice, the man abruptly awoke, stood to his feet, looked around sheepishly and said, “Pastor, I don’t know what I’m standing for; but it looks like you and me are the only ones for it!”
The fact remains, very few don’t want to go to heaven when they die, but how you get there seems to be a trade secret which is the property of a few who are either afraid to let it out, or too embarrassed to share that truth with family and friends.
Do you know how to get there? If you died and stood at the door of God’s heaven, and Peter opened the door, and said, “Why should I let you in?” What would you say?
Suppose you replied, “Because I’ve been a pretty good person. I’m not perfect, of course, but I’m a whole lot better than most people. Besides, I’ve given quite a lot of money to charity.” What you’ve said may be completely true, but would that open the door?
Not according to what the Bible says. Here’s what it says: “But when the time came for the kindness and love of God our Savior to appear, then he saved us–not because we were good enough to be saved, but because of his kindness and pity–by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit whom he poured out upon us with wonderful fullness–and all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did so that he could declare us good in God’s eyes…” (Titus 3:4-6, Living Bible).
The Bible says that entrance to heaven isn’t based on what you do–either good or evil–it is based upon what Jesus Christ did. The Bible describes this as a gift which is given to those who believe. “The gift of God” is how Paul described it in Ephesians 2:8, and then he said it is received “not by works, so that no one can boast.”
In two minutes, however, I can tell you what you need to do to receive this gift which opens heaven’s door. Three simple steps are necessary. Step #1: You must acknowledge your personal need of salvation. The Bible categorically says that all have sinned—everybody, no exceptions (See Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6). Do you admit that? Then go on to step #2 which is to believe that God will save you. The Bible puts is like this: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household” (Acts 16:31).
The third step means that you go public with your commitment of faith. You run up your flag and commit yourself. Here’s the text: “That if you confess with your mouth, `Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Your intelligence, your money, your goodness, or your gifts will never open the door of heaven when you die; but what Jesus did unlocks the door. No wonder He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And what He said hasn’t changed.
Resource reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/3-simple-steps-to-get-to-heaven/
Voter sign up in Palawan suspended ahead of plebiscite
By Ferdinand Patinio
Voter registration in the province of Palawan is suspended to give way to the activities for the plebiscite for its division into three separate provinces, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.
“The voter registration is suspended from February 11 to March 20. Our voter registration will resume on March 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The offices of our Election Officers are open from Tuesday to Saturday including holidays,” Sheila May Guno, Election Officer II in Araceli town, said in a virtual briefing.
Meanwhile, Comelec Region 4-B (Mimaropa) director Gloria Petallo said the initial budget allocation for the referendum is at PHP79 million.
Petallo added that they also asked for an additional PHP50 million for the establishment of additional polling places to comply with the guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Because of the postponement and after the IATF approved the health protocol suggestion by the Comelec, so we have to request for another supplemental budget to cover the additional polling places. Before the pandemic, we can accommodate 400 regular voters in the polling precinct. But now, we can only accommodate 200 to comply with the IATF requirements, observing distancing and health protocols,” she said.
The referendum was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was moved to March this year as quarantine restrictions were implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“So we requested I think around PHP50 million excluding the expenses of the provincial government, we requested them to provide health supplies for the local of Palawan,” Petallo said.
The province has 490,639 registered voters.
On March 13, voters will choose whether or not to divide Palawan into three provinces -- Palawan Oriental, Palawan del Norte, and Palawan del Sur, pursuant to Republic Act 11259.
Outsiders may campaign in split-Palawan poll
EVEN non-residents of Palawan could campaign for or against the looming plebiscite, which could divide the island into three separate provinces, according to the Commission on Elections.
Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho said there is no geographical restriction on who could campaign for the upcoming plebiscite for the ratification of Republic Act 11259 or An Act Dividing the Province of Palawan Into Three (3) Provinces, Namely: Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
“Anyone can campaign. People from any part of the Philippines, as long as you’re a [Filipino] citizen, can campaign and convince people to vote, but they are not allowed to vote,” Kho explained in a recent online briefing.
The poll official, however, noted that appointed government officials and personnel will not be allowed to participate in the plebiscite campaign, as this is prohibited under the Civil Service Law.
Elected officials, he said, are not covered by the said restrictions.
Kho issued the clarification when asked if residents of Puerto Princesa who will not be allowed to participate in the plebiscite, will be allowed to campaign for or against the division of Palawan.
He assured the public that Comelec will be non-partisan in the plebiscite to be held on March 13, 2021.
“We will implement whatever decision of the voters is with respect to the plebiscite, whether they will ratify or reject the partition of the province of Palawan,” Kho said.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/02/18/outsiders-may-campaign-in-split-palawan-poll/