Senator Kennedy and the Hope of Heaven
“If God were to ask you why He should let you into heaven, what would you tell Him?” I’ve asked that question to many people and received many different answers. In Senator Edward Kennedy’s letter to Pope Benedict XVI, we gather what might be Senator Kennedy’s answer to God.
Kennedy knows that he is dying and asks the Pope to pray for him. In this remarkable letter he appears to assess his life. Looking back on his career he writes,
I want you to know, your Holiness, that in my 50 years of elected office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I’ve opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a U.S. Senator.
Perhaps reflecting on less savory aspects of his private life, he speaks of the role faith has played in his life.
That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provided solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my past.
Mindful of the huge disconnect between Catholic teaching on abortion and his own support of abortion, his advocacy of health care apparently includes access to abortion but,
I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I’ll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.
At the close of his letter Kennedy assesses his life as a Roman Catholic. He writes,
I’ve always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness. And though I have fallen short through human failings I’ve never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith.
I think it is fair to say that the Senator wanted more than prayers on his behalf. This is a man facing eternity, not sure of his eternal destiny, asking for help from the man he thinks is best able to help him. You can read the full text of his letter here and the text of the Pope’s reply here.
Such is the despair and uncertainty of anyone who thinks he or she must earn their way to heaven. Have I done enough? Has my good outweighed the bad? Does my second half of life outweigh my first half? And the unvoiced question on Kennedy’s part, but clearly between the lines of his letter, “Will my support of the murder of countless unborn children be overlooked in light of the other political good I have done?”
The message of the Bible is terribly discouraging to anyone in any religion who would seek to go to heaven by trying to live a good life. You can’t do it. You might as well try to jump across the Grand Canyon as to try to earn the favor of God.
Jesus once was asked to summarize the requirements of God. If we can meet these requirements, then we can earn passage to heaven. Jesus said,
37And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (NASB) Matthew 22:37-40Matthew 22:37-40
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
The Bible makes clear that none of us measures up to this distillation of God’s requirements. We can fool ourselves by ignoring them or by inventing a less rigorous God but any of our efforts at escaping their implication will not help us when we actually stand before God. Paul makes it clear in his great letter to the Romans:
9What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (NASB) Romans 3:9-12Romans 3:9-12
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin; 10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; 12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:
We chaff at this impossible requirement from God but it is actually a great act of mercy that enables anyone anywhere to be sure of an entrance into heaven. Romans 11:32Romans 11:32
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
32 For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
(NASB) reads, “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” It is mercy we need, not a forlorn hope that somehow our good behavior will outweigh our bad.
God makes known a wonderful and sure way to know forgiveness and heaven in His Word. It is a way that has nothing to do with our efforts and everything to do with His mercy and grace. It is the way that is wrapped up and solely sufficient in the person of Jesus Christ, who was punished for anything and everything that would keep us out of heaven on the cross. Read the clear promise of Scripture:
4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together £with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (NASB) Ephesians 2:4-10Ephesians 2:4-10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ , 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: 8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
Only God knows whether Senator Kennedy had the faith that rests in the finished work of Christ on the cross as the basis of acceptance before God. Tragically, from his letter, it appears that he did not. How I pray that everyone who reads this would find grace and mercy in Jesus Christ and not cling to the inevitable failure of their own merit before God!
September 1st, 2009 at 11:33 am
It is tragic that a man of his stature, position and influence is not sure of his relationship with Almighty God, the Creator. May your message inspire many to give true consideration to the claims and provision of Jesus Christ for their eternal souls.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I greatly appreciated the words used to describe Senator Kennedy’s situation at the end of his life. Addressing the Pope for the answers about eternity, not realizing that only God can provide the answer through His Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you.
September 29th, 2009 at 7:52 am
It is sad that some of us wait until our lives are coming to a close to beg God of our sins and weaknesses. None of us are perfect and we all have made mistakes. I do believe that we will not be judged by how much money we earned, what kind of car we drive, how big our house is, etc. I have not lived a perfect life and i will live with the consequences. I do believe I am as important as the richest and most powerful people on earth. These people will not be considered any more worthy than myself.
Thank You and God Bless!