How Can We Know that We’ll Go to Heaven | Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) ©WikiC
https://leesbirdblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/how_can_we_know_that_well_go_to_heaven_crosswaytracts.mp3
This optimism stands in stark contrast to Jesus Christ’s words written in the Bible: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”(Matthew 7:13-14).
But once that’s straight in our minds we’re ready to hear the good news of Jesus Christ—Jesus took upon himself, on the cross, the Hell we deserve so that we could experience for eternity the Heav­en we don’t deserve!
To sin means to fall short of God’s holy standards. Sin is what end­ed Eden’s paradise. And all of us, like Adam and Eve, are sinners. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong (Proverbs 14:12). Sin has terrible consequences, but God has provided a solution: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
We cannot pay our own way. Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross on our behalf, God freely offers us forgiveness.
To be forgiven, we must recognize and repent of our sins. For­ giveness is not automatic. It’s conditioned upon confession: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Christ offers to everyone the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
Now is the time to make things right with God. Confess your sin­fulness and accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on your behalf.
You are made for a person and a place. Jesus is the person, and Heaven is the place. They are a package—they come together. You cannot get Heaven without Jesus or Jesus without Heaven. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). For all eternity you’ll be glad you did.
If you understand what God has done to make forgiveness and eternal life possible for you, you may want to express it in words like these: “Dear Lord, I confess that I do not measure up to your perfect standard. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. I now place my trust in him as my Savior. Thank you for your forgive­ness and the gift of eternal life.”