Its the most important question we can ask ourselves, are we sure Heaven is our eternal home? How would we know? The answer is found in God's Word, the Holy Bible.
The Bible says, in the beginning the LORD God created the heavens, the earth and everything in them, very good. The first two people, Adam and Eve, lived in the Garden of Eden where there was no death, no sorrow, no toil, no suffering and the creation was all vegetarian. There was only one simple command to obey.
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
God, in His love for us, created a perfect world where God and man were living in a peaceful and loving relationship. Unfortunately, this would soon change. The Bible says the serpent in the Garden tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the tree. When they listened to the serpent and broke God's only command, they brought sin, death, sorrow and suffering into the world. As a result, mankind died spiritually and today we see the horrible result of this. We now live in a fallen world with separation between man and God.
There is also a spiritual wickedness at work in our world. The Bible later explains the serpent in the Garden of Eden is a fallen angel named Satan and he is currently the god of our fallen world.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Revelation 12:9)
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Thankfully, God loves us and has not abandoned us while He reigns from Heaven (2 Chronicles 20:6).
However, the Bible says:
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
So after judgment, who will be right with God and live forever with Him?
The Bible says:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Corinthians 6:9a)
To live with God, we must be righteous but this is a problem because the Bible also says:
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10).
Why are none righteous?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Because of sin, the Bible says none of us are righteous. We sin when we break God's Law, the Ten Commandments.
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4)
For example, as we go through five of the Ten Commandments, with a tender conscience, ask yourself if you've kept these.
(Second Commandment) Do you bow in worship to a graven image? Have you ever put something before God or created a god that you're comfortable with? For example, "my god would never _____". The Bible calls this idolatry.
(Third Commandment) Have you ever cursed using God's Name? The Bible calls this blasphemy.
(Eighth Commandment) Have you ever taken something that doesn't belong to you?
(Ninth Commandment) Have you ever told a lie?
(Tenth Commandment) Have you ever coveted something that doesn't belong to you?
Be honest with yourself, have you kept these?
In addition to the other five commandments, the Bible also says that sin is a failure to do good when we know we should...
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." (James 4:17)
...and God even knows the hidden secrets of our heart.
"Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart." (Psalm 44:21)
One common belief is that the Lord will forgive us on our day of judgment or that our good works will outweigh our sins. However, the Bible says salvation does not come through religion or good works but rather we need God's gift of grace. Because God is holy and just, a penalty must first be paid for sin.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" (Titus 3:5)
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
The Bible says the wages of sin is death and the second death after judgment, which is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:46)
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)
That's the bad news.
Thankfully, there is good news. The Lord loves all of us and is not willing that any should perish.
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
No matter who you are or what you've done, you can be saved today. For this to happen, God had to intervene on your behalf and do something very loving and merciful.
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us" (1 John 3:16a)
Nearly two thousand years ago, God came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)
The Bible says Jesus is our Creator who became our Redeemer.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-3, 10-14)
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin woman. Our Creator walked and lived in this world with us. His life was sinless and He did countless miracles including healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead to life, walking on water, calming the seas and forgiving sinners. Yet His coming had an important purpose - to save us. At the end of His life, Jesus was betrayed by one of His followers and handed over to the Roman authorities where He was scourged. He was then crucified on a Roman cross, suffered, died and was buried. In what seemed like a defeat, praise God, the Lord had won a great victory. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and defeated the penalty of death forever. The precious, holy Son of God bled and died to pay the penalty for our sins. By dying in our place, Jesus became the bridge back to God so we could be reconciled with Him.
This is what the Bible calls the gospel, which means good news.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: " (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Salvation came a great price - the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
God has provided so many blessings to a world that is living in rebellion against Him. We stand guilty before the Lord, yet God in His love for us has come to live and die to pay the penalty for our sins and to set us free from its power in our lives.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:5-6)
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to many then ascended into Heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He is the only way to be reconciled with God and in Him we find forgiveness for our sins and eternal life.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
To receive God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life, Jesus said we must be born again.
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
(John 3:3)
If you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, please repent and believe on Him.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30)
There are no specific words of a prayer that will save us but rather by faith, call on and trust in Jesus Christ to be your Saviour. You could pray:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. If I died today, I would be lost and not go to Heaven. I repent of my sins and put my trust in You alone to save me. Please forgive me and come into my life and be my Saviour. Help me live for You from this day forward. In Your Name Jesus I pray. Amen."
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
When we receive Christ as our Saviour, the Bible says we are a new creature, God grants us everlasting life and will pardon our sins on our day of judgment.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
(Romans 8:1)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
In Christ, our fellowship with God is restored and we are born again by the Holy Spirit.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1)
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
(John 14:16-17)
Today, will you please consider your eternal salvation? There is no decision more important than this.
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
(Isaiah 55:6-7)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28)
The Bible says Jesus will someday return to rule and judge in the Millennial Kingdom. Satan's reign will end and he will be bound.
"But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." (Mark 13:23-26)
Before His Second Coming, Jesus warned of a period of Great Tribulation unlike the world has ever seen. It is during this time, the Bible says one man will rule the world. He has many names in the Bible, such as the Beast or Man of Sin. The world sometimes refers to him as the Antichrist. The Bible says his global kingdom will consist of a One World Government and a One World Religion and during the reign of Satan's false Messiah, it will also be a time when God judges the world and pours out His wrath on sin. Thankfully, if you are someone who knows Christ as your Saviour, there is a glorious and blessed eternal hope to look forward to.
After the Millennial Kingdom, God has said our world will be replaced and Christ will reign in a New Heavens and New Earth with those who were saved. Once again, there will be no sin, no death, no pain, no suffering, no sorrow and animals will not kill each other.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13)
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." (Isaiah 11:6)
In the meantime, Jesus said to keep watch because someday He is going to catch up His people to Himself. This event is the blessed hope of believers and is called the Rapture. While many debate its timing in relation to the period of Great Tribulation which will occur prior to Jesus' Second Coming, I am of the conviction that we should heed Jesus' words of advice and keep watch because it can happen at any time. He came first as the Lamb of God to suffer and die for our sins but when He returns He will be coming as the Lion of Judah in great glory, power and wrath.
"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.." (Matthew 24:42)
Nothing is more important than this. Make sure you're born again and know Christ as your Saviour.
If you have trusted Christ as your personal Saviour, praise the Lord! If you would like to talk about your decision, feel free to send me an email at info@sharingtruth.org. I'd love to rejoice with you and help you out any way I can.
In the meantime, here are a few suggestions to help you on your way:
1) Pray and ask the Lord to lead you.
2) Read the Bible daily to get to know God better. A good starting place is the Book of Matthew or John in the New Testament.
3) Stand on God's promises, not your feelings.
4) Join a local church that takes the Bible's teachings as its sole authority without adding man-made traditions. There you can be baptized as a public testimony of your faith. I personally attend and serve in an Independent Baptist Church.
5) Share the Good News about Christ with others.
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Lived in harmony and did not die
Holy
Righteous
Everlasting
Sinful
Unrighteous
Dies
Jesus dies in our place
Will live together forever
The penalty for sin is death