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Are you absolutely, 100% certain that when you breathe your last breath, heaven will be your eternal destination? If you’re like many, the answer that I hear most often is, “I certainly hope so.”

May I say—what a terrible way to live your life, not knowing for certain. Only clinging to a hope that somehow you’re deserving of God’s heaven when all is said and done.

ABSOLUTELY SURE

God wants you to be absolutely sure—all doubt removed—100% certain! The Bible, God’s written trustworthy word, says, “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” (1 John 5:13). 

One of the most oft-quoted verses in scripture is John 3:16. “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.” God provided a Savior, and we can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that heaven is guaranteed! That’s extremely Good News. But before you can fully understand the Good News, you must understand the Bad News and exactly why it is that you have need of a Savior. You see, mankind has a couple of huge problems.

The Problem of Sin

Lying, stealing, lust, pride—they’re all sins. God is absolutely holy and cannot tolerate sin. He cannot overlook or excuse sin as if it never happened. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

We’re all sinners; we’re humanly incapable of reaching the standard of perfection God requires for entering heaven. When the first man Adam sinned, sin entered the human race, and sinfulness is part of our nature. That’s a glaring issue because of the second problem.

The Penalty of Sin

Our sin debt must be paid. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). That’s a big problem! Because God is holy and perfect, our sin creates a wall between us and God. He wants to have a relationship with us, but because of our sin, He can’t. Sin must be judged, and that judgment is eternal separation from God in hell, a place of “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46). 

Nothing we could do would pay the penalty for our sin. We can’t get to God on our own. The problem of sin and the penalty of sin are insurmountable problems, humanly speaking, so what’s the answer? This is where the good news kicks back in. God did something extremely remarkable about our predicament: He provided a Savior! 

A SAVIOR

Before the world began (2 Timothy 1:9), God, in His divine foreknowledge, knew full well the predicament man would find himself in because of his many poor choices. God was fully aware of man’s need of a Savior, so He drew salvation’s plan: Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, coming to earth to ultimately die in our place. God sent His son Jesus, He that was without sin, the perfect sinless sacrifice, to be our payment for our sin, “the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). 

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Why? Because He loved us so very much! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). 

Jesus lived a life that we could not live and died a death that we deserved. He was born as a baby by a virgin because God is His father. Because He did not have a human father, He did not inherit a sin nature, but rather possessed the divine nature from His Heavenly Father. Jesus’ divine nature made Him fit to be our Savior, for He lived a perfect life, then shed His blood on the cross for the remission of our sins, dying in our place. He was buried and He rose again, conquering sin, death, and hell. 

Jesus’ death proved that He was fully human, and His resurrection proved that He was fully God—God in the flesh. His resurrection also proved God’s acceptance of His sacrifice. He paid our sins in full. Only through Jesus can we have a relationship with God and receive the gift of eternal life in heaven—guaranteed! “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). 

SALVATION IS A GIFT

Understand this: The gift of salvation through Jesus Christ isn’t yours until you personally respond and accept it for yourself. A gift is not yours until you accept it. 

Realize that nothing you can do on your own will earn you heaven. “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). 

You can never pay the price for your sin through your efforts, abilities, self-righteousness, or any act of service on your part. Although you may participate in commendable efforts, your efforts will never satisfy the payment that God set for sin—death. You can’t save yourself. Man’s ways lead to dead-end streets. 

There’s only one way to a personal relationship with God, your sins forgiven, eternal life and a guaranteed home in heaven and that’s through Jesus. “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). 

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

You were created by a loving God, and you are not an evolving accident of nature as the world tells you. God created you for Himself and for His glory. God knows you and loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you. You have great value, and you exist for a purpose. You can find ultimate fulfillment by finding a personal relationship with God. 

But know this: God didn’t want to create robots. He didn’t put a cord in your back, similar to that of some dolls, that He could pull and hear you utter the words, “I love you.” No, He created us all with a free will to make our own choices. God wants us to choose to accept the gift of salvation; He wants us to choose to desire to know Him and to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to choose to love Him and to obey Him. 

A GIFT FOR ALL

When Jesus went to the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind, He was placed between two thieves, both deserving of death. One thief recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah that would bring salvation, and he accepted God’s gift. The other thief rejected the gift and as a result, he died in his sins, destined to be eternally separated from God. Both had a choice—both had free wills. These two men represented all mankind—those who accept the gift and those who reject it—neither deserving, but the Savior died for both. 

Jesus has paid the penalty in full for all of us. He wants us all to experience His saving grace (unmerited favor) and all that comes along with it. 

“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). 

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). 

“Whosoever” includes you! Recognize that you are indeed a sinner in need of a Savior and place your total dependence in Jesus and Jesus alone for forgiveness of your sins. Recognize His gracious love and payment in your place for what you cannot pay yourself to satisfy a perfect God. An exchange will take place when you put your trust in Christ—your guilt credited to Jesus and His righteousness credited to you. Accept the gift!

RECEIVE CHRIST

Pray something like this but understand that it’s not saying the right words or the prayer itself that saves you but rather you believing in your heart as to what Jesus did for you on the cross and transferring your total dependence to Jesus alone for His forgiveness and saving grace.

“Dear Lord, I know that I’m a sinner and because of my sin I’m separated from God. I’m deserving of the penalty for sin, but I believe that You died in my place as full payment. I know that I can’t save myself, so I fully depend on You and You alone to forgive me of my sin, to be my Savior and to save me from the penalty of sin. I trust You to give me eternal life. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and saving me. Amen.” 

Please know that if you made the decision to accept the gift, heaven rejoices. Your eternal destination is changed in an instant and you are GUARANTEED HEAVEN! You are a child of God, and He is now your Heavenly Father, desirous of a personal relationship with you forevermore. Mark this day down—it’s a momentous day, your 2nd birthdate. The Bible terms it “Born Again,” your spiritual birthday, the day you are born into God’s family and join the family of God—all those who will live in His home, heaven, for eternity.

Please take advantage of the additional help and information below. For those of you who have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, growing in your relationship with your Heavenly Father will result in exceptional joy and blessing. - Ray W. Vroman

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