If you were to die today, are you 100% sure of where you will go when you die?
And how can you know for sure that you are going to heaven?
When you think about death are you afraid or are you at peace with the thought? Millions of people around the world struggle with this very question.
What's going to happen when I die?
Maybe you don't think about. Maybe you believe that nothing will happen. Regardless of what you think now, your time will come, as everyone's does. As a nurse, I've seen this a lot in my career. I couldn't tell you how many people I've come across on their death beds, wanting to believe that there is something else out there, something for them after death. It's unfortunate people wait so long to ponder the question and it's sad that so many people die with fear of not knowing what's going to happen to them. If only they had faith. The world tells us there are many paths to heaven and that living a good life can get us there. However, God tells us there is only one way to heaven.
And that's through Jesus Christ. Believing in Him and putting your trust and faith in Him.
So how do we understand this and make sense of this?
1. You must admit that you are a sinner.
First of all, what is a sin? A sin is the breaking of God's moral law. The first sin was committed by Adam and Eve when they disobeyed Godin the Graden of Eden. You can read about this in Genesis.
The Bible tells us
As it is written, "There is none righteous, no, not one:"
- Romans 3:10
To be righteous means to be without doing wrong. Someone that is perfect. The Bible tells us that there is no-one that is righteous, not even one person.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
- Romans 3:23
2. You must acknowledge the penalty of sin.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 6:23
What is a wage? A wage is a means of payment. The Bible is telling us that the payment for sin is death. Their are two deaths according to scripture. The first death is when your body dies physically. The second death is referring to a spiritual death in which your spirit is cast into the lake of fire.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, This is the second death. And whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
- Revelation 20:14-15
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- Revelation 21:8
3. You must know that salvation is a free gift.
What is salvation? Salvation means to be delivered or saved from evil or destruction.
What is God's gift? God's gift is eternal life. Eternal means forever or everlasting.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 6:23
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
Salvation is not something we earn by being religious or by living a good life. Salvation is a GIFT. A gift is something given to you voluntarily, without compensation. In other words, something given to you for FREE. You do not have to work for it or repay it. If you would be doing those things it would not be a gift. If God gives you a gift of eternal life, How many times do you have to receive that gift?
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
- 1 John 2:25
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
- John 10:28
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
- Titus 1:2
If God promised us eternal life, and He does not lie, this means you cannot lose your salvation.
Salvation is something we do not deserve. We are and never will be good enough, no matter how good we live our lives. Living a life that is pleasing to God blesses you here on earth, but that alone does not save you. We are saved by GRACE through FAITH.
4. You must believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.
Who is Jesus? Jesus is God in the flesh. God came to this earth and became man. This is an incredible moment in time. It shows the humanity of Christ. He became human, experiencing many of the same feelings we have, even temptation. However, He never sinned. He showed His divine nature in many ways starting with His incredible birth. When he came to the earth in human form he was born to a virgin named Mary. We all know this is humanly impossible and that was just the start of all the miracles and wonders of His life on earth. There are many supporting scriptures on God becoming man and dwelling among us.
Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Matthew 1:23
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:1
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 1:14
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- 1 Timothy 3:16
Jesus lived a sinless life and at the age of 30 he began to preach and teach the word of God.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
He also performed miracles. MANY MIRACLES. You can read and refer to these here.
Due to his preaching and teaching he was hated by the Jewish leaders and priests. They could not or would not believe that He was the one the prophets spoke about, even though He fulfilled their prophecies.
He was in the world and the world was made by Him, but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
- John 1:10-11
They asked Him to prove himself and He said to them:
"Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days."
- John 2:19
They didn't understand what he meant by that. They thought he was making threats to destroy their temple but in reality he was foreshadowing the future of Himself. They called him a liar and had him arrested. They than mocked him, spit on him, beat him and had him nailed to the cross to die. Three days later He rose from the dead proving His Divine nature once again.
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
-Acts 2:31
5. You must believe that Jesus Christ paid for your sins
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 5:8
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 15:3-4
When Jesus died for our sins, he was taking the punishment that we deserve.
While he was on the cross, He Himself took upon the sin of the world. Every sin that anyone has done, that I've ever done or you've ever done was pinned upon Jesus as if he had committed those sins Himself. He was blameless and sinless and did not deserve the penalty of sin. He took it upon Himself so that we could have another chance.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
- John 3:16
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
- 1 John 5:13
6. Call upon the name of the Lord by asking Him to save you.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- Romans 10:13
And brought them ought, and said Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Acts 16:30-31
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- Romans 10:9
To confess means to admit. You are admitting you are a sinner and you are believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose from the grave as a payment for your sin. It's not that you pay for your sins by living a good life or doing good things but that His sacrifice was enough to purchase your salvation. You have to put all your faith in Him and believe it enough to confess it with your mouth.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Romans 10:10
Pray to God. Talk to God. If you're still having a hard time, here's an example of a prayer you could say.
Dear Jesus,
I come to you today acknowledging that I am a sinner. I believe that you took my sin upon yourself, died for me and then rose again. I'm asking you to forgive me and save me with your gift of eternal life. I'm putting all my trust and faith in you alone Lord Jesus.
Amen
It is that simple. If you prayed that prayer and TRULY BELIEVE it in your heart and confess with your mouth, than you can be assured that you will be in heaven with the Lord when your time on earth is up.
So what now?
God left us with His word, The Bible, as a source of wisdom for us here on this earth. I like to think of the acronyms of the Bible as
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
The Bible gives us the history of the earth, the divine nature of God, instructions on how to live a blessed life here on earth and most importantly, The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the Gospel of Christ, the story of God's love for us that brings us redemption and hope. Believing upon Jesus Christ and accepting Him as your Lord and Savior saves you and guarantees you life everlasting. Reading and studying the Bible gives you wisdom and encouragement. This, along with prayer, draws you closer to the Lord.
