Heaven Questions.com
Randy Alcorn, author of the book "Heaven" explains that Artist Harry Anderson 1906-1996
Heaven Is Not our "Default Destination"
and that Specific Preparation must be made if we are to
Safely Arrive in Heaven.
A recent poll indicated that for every American who believes he or she is going
to Hell, there are 120 who believe they are going to Heaven.
This optimism stands in stark contrast to Jesus 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)
THE ROAD OF LIFE Artist Ross Conklin
The truth is that according to the Bible
we don't automatically go to Heaven.
In fact, Hell - not Heaven - is our default destination.
Unless our sin problem is solved once and for all, we can't enter Heaven.
That's the bad news.
But once that's straight in our minds
we're ready to hear the good news that
Jesus Christ took upon Himself, on the cross, the Hell we deserve
so that we could experience for Eternity the Heaven we don't deserve!
The Only Two Options
There are only two possible destinations when we die -
Heaven
or Hell.
Can we really know
in advance where we'll go?
John, one of the writers of the Bible, said this:
"I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God that you may know that you have
Eternal Life." (1 John 5:13)
We CAN know for sure that we'll
go to Heaven when we die!
DO YOU?
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.
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death." (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)
Jesus, the Son of God, loved us so much that
He became a man to deliver us from our sin.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal Life." (John 3:16)
ABIDE WITH ME Artist Greg Olsen
Jesus the Christ, welcoming us home,
most of humankind has experienced some yearning
for what might be described as a time of heavenly rest.
This image represents that welcome arrival recorded in Matthew 25:21
"Well done thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Jesus came to identify with us in our humanity and our weakness,
but He did so without being tainted by our sin, self-deception, and moral failings.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
Jesus died on the cross as the only One worthy to pay the penalty
for our sins demanded by the holiness of God:
"For our sake He [God] made Him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
They brought Him to the place Golgotha... And at the third hour ... they crucified Him.
And the superscription ... written over was, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
When Christ died on the cross for us, he said,
"It is finished." (John 19:30)
In those times "It is finished" was commonly written across
certificates of debt when they were canceled. It meant "Paid in full".
Christ died so that the certificate of debt, consisting of all our sins,
could once and for all be marked "Paid in full ".
But God raised Jesus from the grave,
defeating sin's consequences and conquering death.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4, & 54-57)
“HE LIVES” Artist SIMON DEWEY
I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live: ~ John 11:25
The Critical Decision
Only when our sins are dealt with in Christ can we enter Heaven.
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.
Forgiveness 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)
There's no righteous deed we can do that will earn us a place in Heaven.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
(Titus 3:5)
We come to Christ empty-handed.
We can take no credit for salvation.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
This gift cannot be worked for, earned, or achieved.
It's dependent solely on Christ's generous sacrifice on our behalf.
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:
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 Jesus,
I confess that I do not measure up to Your perfect standards.
I know You died for me, and your Precious Blood
that flowed at Calvary,was shed to cleanse me.
I accept it Jesus, I accept You in my heart this day as my Savior,
and I ask You to forgive me of all my sins,
and help me to walk daily in Your steps as I study Your Word,
and strive to learn Your ways of righteousness.
I thank You for Your forgiveness and Your gift of Eternal Life,
and I place my trust in You as My Savior.
I pray this in Your Holy Name, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
"Only the Cross" Artist Ron DiCianni
Whom the Lord sets free is free indeed.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
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Our prayers are with you.
If you have questions concerning God as the Creator of the Universe,
Christ being the only way to Salvation,
the Bible and proofs of its Authenticity,
or whatever you may be dealing with,
please e-mail your questions.
Contact us by e-mail at:
HeavenQuestions@hotmail.com
May God bless and guide you on your journey to Heaven!
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