How to Get to Heaven
Introduction: Are You Sure of Your Eternal Destiny?
So, you think you’ve led a good life, huh? How certain are you that Heaven awaits you when your time on Earth ends? Are you "pretty sure"? Absolutely certain? Before you answer, let’s uncover the truth. This isn’t about opinions or guesswork, it’s about what God’s Word reveals. Read on to learn who enters Heaven and how you can secure your place there.
Part 1: Two Lives, Two Scenarios
Consider these two people. Who do you think is going to Heaven?
Case 1: Andy – The Troubled Sinner
Andy, 25, has lived a chaotic life. He’s a regular at the local police station, arrested last week for stealing a car, and now sentenced to three years in jail. He’s mugged seniors for their money and lashed out at his girlfriend over petty frustrations. His life screams rebellion and sin.
Case 2: John – The "Good" Man
John, on the other hand, seems exemplary. He works diligently to provide for his family, pays bills on time, avoids profanity, and skips drunken nights out. He even cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s for years until she passed. A respectable man, surely?
Question: Which one goes to Heaven?
If you chose either Andy or John, you’re wrong. The answer is neither, unless something changes. Why? Neither has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior or sought forgiveness for their sins. You might say, “John didn’t sin!” But God’s Word tells a different story.
Part 2: The Reality of Sin
We Are All Sinners
The Bible declares:
Romans 3:23 (NKJV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
No exceptions. Sin isn’t just blatant acts like theft or violence, it’s every selfish thought, every “harmless” lie to your boss, every flicker of pride or resentment. Even John, the “good man,” is guilty. We’re born sinners, inheriting Adam’s fallen nature (Romans 5:12), and no good deeds can undo that.
Sin’s Consequence
Romans 6:23 (NKJV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin earns us death, not just physical, but eternal separation from God in Hell, the “lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15). Neither Andy’s crimes nor John’s virtues can bridge this chasm without help.
Part 3: The Solution – Jesus Christ
God’s Love and Sacrifice
Here’s the hope:
John 3:16 (NKJV): “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:8 (NKJV): “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus, God’s perfect Son, took your punishment. His blood, spilled on the cross, cleanses every sin, Andy’s violence, John’s hidden flaws, and yours, if you accept Him.
Justified by Faith, Not Works
Romans 5:9 (NKJV): “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Good works don’t earn Heaven. Faith in Christ’s sacrifice does. Nail your sins to His cross today, let His blood wipe them away forever.
Part 4: Your Choice
Jesus Knocks—Will You Answer?
Revelation 3:20 (NKJV): “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
God won’t barge in. This free gift of salvation requires your invitation. Feeling unloved? Unworthy? Jesus died for you, proof of unmatched love.
The Urgency of Now
James 4:14 (NKJV): “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
Your next breath isn’t guaranteed. The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) could occur any moment, taking the saved to Christ while others face tribulation. Don’t risk eternity, act now.
Part 5: Judgment Is Coming
The Return of Christ
Revelation 1:7 (NKJV): “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
Jesus will return to judge everyone. The unsaved face the Great White Throne:
Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV): “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away… And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life… And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
No one escapes. Your name in the Book of Life hinges on accepting Christ now.
The Rapture and Tribulation
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV): “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Saved believers will escape the Tribulation, a time of unimaginable suffering for those left behind. Why face it when you can choose Christ today?
Part 6: How to Be Saved
A Prayer of Salvation
Right now, wherever you are, drop to your knees and pray:
“Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe You are the Son of God and died for my sins on the cross. Forgive all my sins. Jesus, I repent. Have mercy on me, a sinner, and come into my life. Give me Your Spirit and power. Help me follow and obey Your commandments and live for You. I give You my life. Thank You for hearing me and coming into my life. I ask this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
What’s Next?
If you’ve prayed this, welcome to God’s family! Email us at [insert contact] to share your decision, we’d love to celebrate with you. Visit our page, OK, Jesus Saved Me, Now What?, for guidance on your new walk with Christ.
Part 7: Still Doubting?
Read Son’s Blood, a powerful story that may stir your heart and bring tears to your eyes. Eternity is at stake. Don’t wait.
Closing Blessing
Revelation 22:21 (NKJV): “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
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