Learn the Way to Heaven
Life is so very short. The Bible compares the brevity of life to a vapor like a mist or fog “that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 1:14). However, though life is short, eternity is forever! Have you ever thought about where you will be when you die? The Bible says upon death a person goes either to heaven or to hell (2 Corinthians 5:8; Psalm 9:17). Where will you spend eternity?
You might be thinking, “I’ll go to heaven,” but what makes you believe that? You say, “Because I’m a good person. I’ve never hurt anyone or done anything really bad.” That may be true in your eyes, but how does God see you? The Bible says, “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
There is a coming day of judgment when God “will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). The standard of righteousness is the Lord Jesus Christ. That means everyone’s lives will be measured against His sinless, perfect life (1 Peter 2:22).
But even if you stood before Almighty God to be judged by only the Ten Commandments, how would you do? Do you think you’ve kept them?
- Have you ever told a lie? You say, “Of course, who hasn’t?” Well then, you have broken the ninth commandment. What do you call someone who lied to you? A liar. Exactly right. So you, too, are a liar!
- Have you ever taken anything that wasn’t yours, even something small? “No!” you say. Really? You mean you’ve never taken a pen from a place of business or failed to return a borrowed one? Has a cashier ever given you too much change, and you kept it? The eighth commandment is “Thou shalt not steal.” What do you call someone who steals? A thief. What are you? You are a thief!
- Have you ever used God’s name irreverently or as a curse word? The third commandment tells us not to “take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” Those that do this in the Bible are called “blasphemers.” What does that make you? You have blasphemed God!
- Have you ever looked upon someone with lust? Jesus equates that lust with adultery (Matthew 5:27, 28), the breaking of the seventh commandment. Are you an adulterer?
- Are you guilty of the sin of murder? You say, “Of course not!” The Bible says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer… (1 John 3:15). Remember God looks at your heart!
- Have you ever desired to have anything that wasn’t yours? The tenth commandment is “Thou shalt not covet…” How many times have you been covetous?
So, if you stood in front of God and were judged by just these six commandments, how would you do? Would God declare you innocent or guilty? If you are honest , you would have to judge your own self “Guilty.” As a guilty sinner, what would your sentence be? Where would you spend eternity? Remember what the Bible says about liars, thieves, blasphemers, adulterers, and murderers:
Revelation 21:8 – 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 which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
“Then we are all guilty,” you cry, “no one can make it to heaven!” You are absolutely right. You see, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “There is none righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:10). When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he became a sinner and subsequently passed his sinful nature to all mankind. Everyone is born a sinner! (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5).
But there is hope! Since Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, he did not inherit the sinful nature of Adam. His father is God and He was born and remains sinless. He is the Son of God and the Son of man. He knows what it is like to be God and man because He is both (1 Timothy 3:16).
When Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins, He took the sins of all men as His own. Our sins were judged once and for all when He died on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). A trade was made. He died for our sins, to give His righteousness and eternal life to whosoever will receive Him:
2 Corinthians 5:21 – 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.
You are guilty and already condemned (John 3:18). Your sentence is the lake of fire for eternity! The only way out is to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, trusting Him alone for your salvation. There is nothing you can do to take away your sins. That’s why you are in need of God’s forgiveness. Even if you were baptized, joined a church, and started living a “decent” life, you would still “come short” (Romans 3:23). You must simply receive salvation as a “gift” from God (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Let’s say you are standing in front of a judge and found guilty of a severe crime. The fine for your crime is $500,000 but you don’t have the money. Just before the gavel falls and sentence is passed, someone offers to give you the money with no strings attached. Would you take it? You would be a fool not to!
That is exactly what Jesus Christ did when He died for your sins on the cross. He paid your sin debt with His blood and completed the transaction by rising from the dead (Romans 4:25). He is alive, waiting to give you eternal life.
Will you receive Him?
Why not pray this prayer from your heart?
“Lord, I know that I am a sinner and can’t save myself. I know that if I die without you, I will go to hell. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. By faith I receive you as my personal Saviour trusting you to forgive me of my sins. Thank you for saving me! Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and meant it with your heart, you are now saved and on your way to heaven. God never lies and He promises to save “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13). Read the following verse:
John 5:24 – 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.
Did you “hear the word?” Did you listen to the scriptures we pointed out? Did you “believe?” What do you have according to the verse? Yes, that’s right — everlasting life! You are no longer condemned or guilty, now you are saved, forgiven of your sins and on your way to heaven.
If you prayed to receive Christ as your personal Saviour, please email us or call us at (850) 997-2165 to let us know!