18 inches … or 1/2 of a yard … or 45.72 mm … or 457.2 cm … or … well, whatever you want to use in measurement. 18 inches isn’t very far. If someone were following behind me just 18 inches I would say that they are way too close. No, 18 inches is not very far at all. It is about the length of a typical forearm of a person … from the elbow to the tips of the fingers.

Do you know what else is only about 18 inches in distance? The distance between your head and your heart. It is quite possible to know about something or someone in your head but not know it/them in your heart … not have or be in a personal relationship with that someone. For instance, I can truthfully say that I know a fair amount about Donald Trump, but I can’t say that I know him personally. I don’t have a relationship established with him. I have never met him. No, I don’t know him and he does not know me.

This is even true of God. He knows us … He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows absolutely everything there is to know about us, but unless He has personally met you thru invitation He does not know you … nor do you know Him. You have never met.

Having never met brings to mind a portion of Scripture where everyone of us will someday stand before Jesus in judgement and if we have never met Him and do not have a personal relationship with Him, He will say to us “Depart from Me. I never knew you.”

Matthew 7:21-23 reads “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

“The phrase “missing heaven by 18 inches” refers to the idea that many people may have an intellectual understanding of faith but lack a genuine heart connection to it, which can lead to spiritual separation from God. This concept emphasizes the importance of not just knowing about Jesus Christ but truly accepting Him in one’s heart for a personal relationship.”

“Can anyone actually get that close to heaven and yet hear the Lord say, “I never knew you: depart from Me”?
However, this will be the terrible fate of many professing Christians in our churches today. Some of these people are even in responsible positions in the church, but they only have a “head” or intellectual-acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tragically enough, even teachers, preachers, and religious workers are not exempt from the possibility of the chilling indictment above.”

Just think of it … going to church all of your life, maybe faithfully teaching a Sunday school class or serving as a Deacon, Usher or something else… only to be rejected and not allowed into heaven. Wow!

Yes, we can miss heaven by only about 18 inches. How tragic that would be!

BTW, this speaks of professing Christians, but it applies to all people everywhere whether they profess faith in Jesus or not. There are many who profess to know a lot about Jesus, but don’t know Him personally … nor do they profess to be Christian. They might even profess to be atheist. There are only two groups of people in this world … lost and saved (or lost and found if you prefer). Which group are you in?