There are big questions that haunt all of us. What happens when I die? Where will I spend eternity? The single most important question that you will ever answer is this, “If I were to die today, would I spend eternity in Heaven with God?” Your relationship with Jesus Christ is central to the answer of that question. The Bible tells us in I John 5:13, 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… The simple truth is that God wants us to know where we are going! So, here it is in a nutshell:
1. RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION. For most of us, our biggest mistake when we don’t know our way is that we don’t want to admit that we are lost! This is called pride. In order to find the way to eternal life with God, we must admit that we are lost in sin. Romans 5:12 teaches us that since Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on earth, a sin nature has been present in all people. Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Sin is any act contrary to God’s laws and commandments, and those sins that we have committed separate us from God.
2. RELIGION, GOOD WORKS and even BAPTISM are NOT the answer. Religions try to create their own ways to God. Their systems may seem logical, but they cannot bridge the gap created by our sin. Proverbs 14:12 says, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. In other words, our thoughts and ways are not what matters. God’s Word, the Bible, provides true answers of grace and forgiveness. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Bible says, 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.
3. THE GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST provides the way. Even though we were lost and separated from God, He loved us and, because He is love, God sent His Son to die on the Cross and rise from the dead three days later. John 3:16 explains, 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. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, He became the payment for our sins. Now, we do not have to pay for our sins ourselves. By His grace, salvation is provided. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
4. BELIEVE and RECEIVE CHRIST. In order to have a relationship with God and an eternal home in Heaven, we must stop trusting ourselves, our works, and our religions, and place our full trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Romans 10:13 says, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This is a promise directly from God. Everlasting life is a gift free to us but paid for dearly by Jesus Christ for it was purchased by the blood of Jesus and offered freely to those who call on Him by faith. If you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner who cannot save yourself, ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn to Him alone to be your Savior, He promises to save you and give you the gift of eternal life. It is important to realize that it is not just reciting words that saves, but in the believing by faith in the Name and Authority of Jesus Christ, the One and Only True and Living God, who has the Power to save and the Right to impart that gift to me and you.
You can make that decision today by simply praying from your heart, something like this: “Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and separated from you because of sin. I confess that in my sin, I cannot save myself. Right now, I turn to you alone to be my Savior. I believe that you lived, died, shed your blood, were buried and rose from the grave in order to pay the sin debt that I owe and that it is only by your Power and your Authority that I have a hope for heaven. I ask you to forgive me for the sin in my life and to save me from the penalty of my sin and give me the gift of eternal life. I am trusting you, Jesus, to save me today, according to your Word, and take me to heaven when I die. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”