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SHORTLY AFTER THE DEATH of President Jimmy Carter someone asked me, "Do presidents go to heaven?"  The firs thing that came to my mind was the words of Jesus when He said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life."  The "whoever" in that beloved passage surely includes presidents.  But, presdidents don't make it to heaven just because they're presidents. As I've said time and time again, "The ground is level at the foot of the cross."

THE TRUTH IS that Jimmy Carter was a sinner just like all of mankind.  Romans 3:23 clearly states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  And then in Romans 3:23 we learn that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ."  The Bible warns that the penalty for our sin is death (Ezekiel 18:20).  So, presidents  just like the rest of human kind, go to heaven based on their acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER has had a lot of very good things said about him.  He ascended to the Presidency in the wake of the horrific Watergate Scandal and he promised to always tell the truth to the American people. and by all accounts he lived up to that promise.  He worked tirelessly on creating peace between Israel and Egypt.  And, the peace that was established as part of the Camp David Accords is a peace that has lasted since his presidency.  

JIMMY CARTER campaigned for the presidency as a "regular man".  He was known for carrying his own luggage between campaign stops.  After his presidency he returned to his family farm and continued to work as a "regular man".  On top of that he continued his diplomatic work around the world and, perhaps most famously helped the poor with his tireless efforts with Habitat For Humanity.  Jimmy Carter was active in his church both before and after his presidency.  His Pastor, Tony Lowden spoke well of the President and his work in the church:

SO, WAS PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER good enough to earn his way into heaven?   By all accounts he was one of our nation's most moral presidents.  He was true to his Christian faith before, during and following his presidency. He gave of his time to help and serve others.  But, Jimmy Carter was not good enough to earn his way into heaven.  BUT, BASED ON HIS FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS he is with the Lord today.

NEARLY EVERY PRESIDENT, near the end of their term in office, offers pardons.  President Carter pardoned, commutted or rescinded the convictions of 566 people during his term.  In addition, he pardoned over 200,000 Vietnam War draft evaders.  Each of those persons, no doubt, thankful to him for the grace he showed to them. But the most important pardon of all is the Pardon that President Carter received from the Lord Jesus Christ. For every sin ever committed, the price was paid in full by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. And that's a pardon we can all receive.  The promise of Jesus is still true today:  "Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

William Newell well understood the pardon we receive when he penned the words to a hymn we used to often sing:

Years I spent in vanity and pride
Caring not my Lord was crucified
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary
Mercy there was great, and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

DO PRESIDENTS GO TO HEAVEN?  Jimmy Carter did because of his faith in God's one and only Son, Jesus Christ.