While we were on a trip somewhere in North Georgia, we were searching through the radio stations trying to find something good when we came across a call-in show hosted by a local pastor. My curiosity was fully engaged! I was eager to hear what kind of questions would be asked, and what answers would be given. The very first caller did not let me down.

He asked, “What is the bare minimum required for me to get into heaven?”

A pause on a radio show seems much longer than it really is. This one seemed like ten minutes, but it was only a few seconds in reality.

The pastor politely, but firmly, responded, “Son, you have to surrender everything to Jesus if you want to go to heaven. Everything.”

Apparently, this answer did not meet the callers needs, and he thought that maybe the pastor didn’t understand. So, he restated his question: “No, Pastor. I just want to know what is the minimum I gotta do to go to heaven.”

There was no pause this time. “Son,” the pastor said, “You can’t do anything to earn your way into heaven. But when Jesus calls you, you must respond by giving up everything in your old life to be re-created by Him. Everything. It’s all. Or it’s not at all.”