May 27

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. — Luke 14:26-27 BSB

There is no middle road to heaven—no intermediate state between heaven and hell, no purgatory for those who think they are too good for hell but not good enough for heaven. No, there is no in-between. We must win Christ as our blessed Savior and enjoy the happiness and glory of heaven with Him, or we will sink down to hell with our sins upon our heads, beneath His terrible frown. The soul that has been captivated by the beauty and blessedness of Jesus longs to win Him, not just for a day, a month, or a year, but for eternity. For in winning Him, it wins all that God can give a soul created for immortality.

Under the influence of His grace, the soul feels its immortal powers springing forth into heavenly life, even here on earth, and looks forward with faith and hope to a glorious eternity, where it will enjoy the highest blessings that God can bestow upon man. This is union with Him, through union with His dear Son, in fulfillment of Christ’s own words: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us” (John 17:21).