"no ulterior motive.
helping to help, not because you are supposed to, but because you want to..."
Sometimes you are compelled to do things, and you don't do it for a reward or recognition...
but there are other times where people do things because they think it will get the something...
heaven... for instance.
I disliked the fact that at times I only did what was "good" because I thought it would get me into heaven. I wanted to do "good" for its sake alone, and not because of the prize inside.
... ... ...
then I realized something...
I have been looking at it from the wrong perspective. I realized that line of thinking is also selfish.
selfish in that thinking doing "good" was a gift, a favor... the privilege is yours. that it is all me. that I am the man.
then, all of a sudden, although I had heard it a million times before...
...From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more...
Luke 12:48
I finally understood. This is pretty much going to come out all wrong, and it will sound painfully obvious, but...
I should not have been thinking about doing good because I think it will get me into heaven.
I should not have been thinking about doing good for goodness' sake.
I should do good because I must, inspite of its rewards and inspite of the reason.
... ... ...
it's kind of like paying your taxes.
you are expected to...
you don't have to...
but you're pretty much screwed if they catch you.
and God...
He will catch you in the end...
... ... ...
the problem then becomes, when is it good and when is it wrong...
someone once told me to give it the red test.
if you could go up to God, and tell him what you did, and not get red in the face (or whatever - you get the idea) - then you are ok.
... ... ...
the way I see it - heaven is there, it is open to all of us. Our thoughts and actions take us away from it. We do not earn our place it heaven, it is already given to us.
in essence, since it is our actions that take us away from heaven, then ultimately it is our choice not to go, despite our desire to go.
... ... ...
so I will do what I am supposed to do.
... ... ...
well... I will try my very best at least...
... ... ...
I know that I will fail...
... ... ...
how much does that suck? going into something knowing that you are going in to fail?
... ... ...
this sucks.
... ... ....
I just have to believe that I am a better person that I think, and start trying to emulate that guy...
believing
being baptized
being a loyal member of the Church
loving God
loving his neighbor
keeping the Ten Commandments
receiving the sacraments, especially Holy Communion
praying
doing good works
dying in a state of grace
Protestants who sincerely believe that they are in the right church CAN be saved provided they die without UNREPENTED mortal sin.
If these persons are not baptized, it is possible for them to have baptism of desire, that is, if these persons do all they know God expects of them, we say they have baptism of desire. This means they WOULD desire baptism if they knew its importance since they do all else that God has required as far as they know. These persons belong to what is called "the Soul of the Church."
