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When people are asked if they’re certain of going to heaven when they die, they may answer “Well, I’m very religious” or “I’ve gone to church all my life” or “I try to be a good person—I think my good deeds will out-weigh my bad.” According to God’s Word, The Bible, none of those behaviors will gain anyone entrance into God’s eternal home because they’re all based on what one does or tries to do. It’s a mistake to think that God’s scale of justice is based on our good deeds exceeding our bad ones. Rather, it’s based on all of our attempts at being or doing good (while living in a state of sinfulness) compared to God’s totally righteous sinlessness and there is no comparison—we have nothing to offer. Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all our attempts at righteousness are as filthy rags.

So how did our dilemma of obtaining heaven or not come about? We were all born with sin’s DNA and it’s in our nature to sin against Holy God’s laws. No one ever had to teach us how to lie, cheat, lust, be greedy or prideful…and the sins list goes on. This was caused when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden after being lied to and deceived by the devil. Immediately, the sin nature of our first parents was transmitted to every human who has been born since. We demonstrate this every day, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Make no mistake—it pays to sin but the wages aren’t worth it. The end result of sin is spiritual death and being forever separated from God, while in the lake of fire called hell. God’s Word says hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. However, since sin will never be allowed to enter and infect a sinless heaven, humans who choose to follow Satan’s ways and live their life on earth in sin, essentially make the choice to live with the devil in eternity too, sending themselves there.

While God must judge sinners, 2 Peter 3:9 tells us He is not willing for any to perish. So God, in Jesus Christ, has provided the opportunity for you to avoid hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Wonderfully, Jesus paid for everyone’s awful eternal judgment in full when He willingly shed His precious, sinless blood on Calvary’s cross. “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Anyone who sees the error of their ways, turns toward God, and in faith believes in Jesus and what He did for them is made sinless and totally righteous in God’s eyes and has the right to spend eternity with Him.

God, in Jesus, has done His part—now it’s up to you. Your part is acknowledging your sinfulness and repenting of it. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Believe Jesus Christ paid your total sin debt with His shed blood and resurrection from the grave after three days. “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” (John 3:16). “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him [Jesus] from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Then be assured His salvation gift to all is your own personal possession by receiving it for yourself. “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right [ability] to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). As a child of God, you will have the privilege of living in His heavenly home. We see a similar scenario here on earth where the neighbor’s children don’t have the right to come to your house every night for food and shelter because you’re not their parent. Likewise, God’s heaven will be home to His children only.

Why is it so important to accept or receive His gift? Because a gift provided but never accepted is of no benefit. Think of the person sentenced to life in prison who is given a pardon by the governor. Their cell door is opened and they’re told they’re free to go but believing it’s too good to be true, they never leave and continue to live in captivity the rest of their life. Maybe they’re fearful of the unknowns outside the walls or maybe they don’t want to leave friends. For whatever reason, while the gift was provided, it was of no benefit because it was never accepted and acted on. This sounds foolish but more foolish is the person who has been offered an eternal pardon for their sins by Jesus Christ and may even believe it’s true—but never act on it.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to accept God’s pardon. Your time on earth is uncertain, making God’s gift of salvation a very Limited-Time-Offer. When you one day step over eternity’s threshold, there’s no retreat. You will be there forever, with God or without Him. Many who realize they should receive Jesus as Savior and Lord intend to do it “someday.” But sadly, everyone dies on a “today.” So please take time to seriously consider the state of your eternal soul. Have you realized that you are a sinner in need of the Savior? Turn to God in repentance and call upon Him now for your salvation. 

You might pray something like this: “Dear Jesus, I am sorry for my sins. I repent of them and want to live for you from now on. I believe you died on the cross in my place and rose from the grave; conquering spiritual death and hell for me. I now receive your gift of salvation and accept you as my Savior and Lord and will do my best to live for you from this day forward. Thank you for saving me for eternity.”

If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, now read your Bible and pray daily and seek to know your Savior better so you can live a life that pleases Him. Search for a good church where the Bible is faithfully preached and taught and rejoice in your new life as a child of God destined for heaven.

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