Are You Going to Heaven
If you were to die today, are you 100% sure, that you would go to Heaven? Several years ago my father took the Bible and showed me how I could be sure. He showed me the four things that Jesus said you must know to get to Heaven. Ever since that day I have known for sure. No, I am not perfect. I am no better than you. I am not a saint or a famous preacher. I am not a pope, but if I died today I am 100% sure I would go to Heaven. Most people don't know where they are going. It would take about five minutes to show you how you could know for sure. I didn't stop by to give you a sermon or preach to you. But I feel like if you were in my shoes and you were sure you were going to Heaven and I wasn't, I think you would share it with me. Wouldn't you?
Here is what it says right here in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." In other words, God says there is no one who is perfect. Can you imagine if God made a video of your life? What if He videoed everything you've ever done, every word you've ever said, and every thought you've ever thought and broadcast it on nationwide television tonight? I wouldn't want Him to do that to me - would you? I've sinned before, have you?
Now the second thing is over here. It says in Romans 6:23,"For the wages of sin is death..." in other words that chapter is talking about dying. Nobody likes to discuss funerals or dying, but God says some day we are all going to die. Did you know that the moment and day you are going to die has already been determined? It is already written on the calendar of eternity. There is nothing you can do to change it. All you can do is be prepared for it. But Jesus said in this chapter that there are two kinds of death. The first is physical. All of us will have a physical death. But Jesus said if we die unforgiven of our sins, not only our body, but our soul will also die forever in the place that Jesus called Hell. Now, God never made Hell for people. It was made for the devil and his demons. God does say that if we die unforgiven of our sins we could not go to Heaven because Heaven would then have sin in it. We'd have to go to Hell forever. I don't know if you're like me, but I don't want to take this much of a chance of ever going to Hell, do you? I didn't think so. Here is the good part. It says right here, "but the gift of God is eternal life (that is Heaven) through Jesus Christ our Lord." It is not through the church. It is not through baptism. It is not through a good life. It is not through church membership, confirmation, or confession; but it is a gift of God (Heaven) through Jesus Christ our Lord. Heaven is not through things we do, but it is through a person, Jesus.
It is like this "letter". If I said this "letter" is going to represent Jesus; and I am going to give it to you as a free gift for just $10.00. Would that be a free gift? No that is not a free gift. Say that I just met you this week. You can't buy this "letter", but I will give it to you free if you wash and wax my car. Would that be a free gift? No, that wouldn't be either. What if I said - you can't buy this "letter", can't trade me for it, can't earn it, but here it is with no strings attached - it's free. That would be a free gift, wouldn't it? Now, it would not be yours until the very moment you decided to take it. I could hold it there all day, but it wouldn't be yours if you didn't decide to take it. You see, that is the way God made us. God didn't make us like a robot. God made us so we have a choice. So we could choose to be forgiven, and love Him, or choose not to. You see, and the choice is ours. There are just two kinds of people in the world - those that have taken Jesus into their life as a free gift, and those that have not. Those that have taken Jesus are going to Heaven. Those that have not taken Jesus, of course, will have to go to Hell. You see, it is not how good we live, or if we are baptized, or what church we attend. It is if we have taken Jesus once and for all into our life.
So, #1 - we have sinned. #2 - without Jesus, we would go where? Right, we'd go to Hell. And #3 - the Bible says right here in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 2,000 years ago God knew that every one of us would sin. He loved us so much that He didn't want us to spend eternity away from Him; so he sent Jesus, His only Son, who was perfect. He took on a human body so He could feel how we feel and go through all we go through. He became our substitute. People were so jealous and envied His life that they wanted to kill Him. The Bible said how they spit upon Him, and plucked His beard. It says they whipped His back. They estimated 351 cuts. They put a crown of thorns upon His head. They laughed at Him, and mocked Him. They nailed His hands and feet to the cross. And as the blood flowed down, Jesus opened not his mouth. After a long time He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Every sin we've ever done - every time we've ever lied, cheated, stolen, taken God's name in vain, etc., was placed upon Jesus that day. He became our substitute. He took our place. I'm not glad He suffered, but I am glad He took my place, aren't you? You know what? If you were the only sinner in the whole world, Jesus would have died on the cross just for you. That's how special you are to Him. He's got every hair on your head counted and every tear you have ever shed is numbered. Now if God cares about those little things, don't you think He cares where your soul is going to spend eternity? I believe so too!
Now I believe just like you. #1 - I have sinned. You said, "me too." #2 - without Jesus, I would have to go to Hell. You said, "yea, I believe that too." #3 - Jesus lived, died, and rose again for me. You said, "OK, I believe that too." So there is just one difference, if any, between us and that is this - 14 years ago, I knelt down at my brother's bed in our house after my dad had told this to me. I realized I had a good life, I'd believed in Jesus. I prayed to Him when I got into trouble or felt lonely. But I had never once and for all taken Him into my life to forgive all of my sins. I had never done that. I prayed sometimes and I would ask Him to forgive me and come into my heart, but I had never done it once and for all, and really believed He came in. I thought you had to do it daily. I thought you had to live a good life, or had to go to church, or have a combination of things to get to Heaven. So, it was on a Monday morning at 7:00 a.m., and I'll never forget it. I knelt down and realized I was a sinner that deserved Hell, and I said, "Jesus, if you will take me, I will take you." And I know that morning He came into my life and forgave all of my sins. My guilt was gone and a joy and peace flooded my soul. That is why I am going to Heaven. Not because I am good, but because God promised it in the Bible. He said that if I accepted his Son, He would accept me into Heaven one day. And you know what? I have never forgotten that day. Big things you don't forget. Most people have never done that. I have asked them.
As far as you know, has there ever been a definite time, place, and day when once and for all Jesus came into your life, forgave you, changed your life, and promised you a home up in Heaven? I'm not talking about confirmation or baptism, or getting in a car wreck and praying for help. This is different. This is a once and for all thing. Something this big you would never forget. Has there really ever been a time like that? Probably not - huh?
Well, I appreciate your honesty. It means now that you are in the same shoes I was in several years ago. You believe in God and you love Him in your own way. But you are unforgiven just like I was. According to the Bible, if you were to die unforgiven right now, where does the Bible say you would probably have to go? Right, but I don't believe you want to go to Hell, do you? Is that where God wants you to go? Sure it's not. Now, I want to show you this last thing. It says here in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." God says you can put your name there and call (that means ask) upon the name of the Lord and you shall be saved. It is a promise. Doesn't that mean that Jesus would save anybody who would simply ask Him to and meant business? Sure He would.
How many times would you have to ask Him since He's a free gift? Right, just once. Let me ask you - if Jesus was willing to take you just as you are; wouldn't you be willing to take Him just as He is? That's what I thought. Let's bow our heads. We'll have a word of prayer and we'll ask Him. I know we are not in a church. I wasn't in a church when He came into my life. He says when two or three people are reading the Bible that He is right there in the midst. So let's pray. "Dear Lord, please come into my friend's heart, take his (her) sins away, and give him a home up in Heaven one day. Now with our heads bowed and our eyes still closed, silently in your own words, would you ask the Lord to come into your heart, forgive you, and take you to Heaven one day? Let's just pause for a few moments silently. Just silently, would you ask him right now? Now with our heads bowed and our eyes still closed, if you meant business would you pray this simple prayer after me, but mean it from your heart. Just say it after me - "Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned and I am sorry. Please come into my heart and be my personal Savior and take me to Heaven one day and help me live for you. Amen." God bless you! Let me ask you something. According to the Bible, God made a promise to you just now. He said that if you would ask Him to be your personal Savior and trust Him with your sins and with your heart, He'd come in forever. Now, either He didn't tell the truth or He came into your life. Which one do you believe happened just now? I believe so too. So how long did He come in to your heart for? Forever, that's right. So, according to the Bible, if you were to die this very moment, since Jesus has saved you, where would you now go? Heaven. Oh that's wonderful!
Now, you don't hear the angels singing up in Heaven, but they are. There's a great celebration going on because of your decision. I'm so proud of you, but I do want to warn you that the devil is pretty mad about this. Sometime this week, even before I leave, the devil is going to try to discourage you or put doubts into your mind. He is going to say "You didn't mean that." "God can't save you." Don't listen to him. There are four ingredients to making a great Christian. 1) Daily Bible reading. 2) Prayer 3) A good old-fashioned Christian church, and that is the kind of church we have. All we preach from is the Bible. 4) Good Christian friends. You can still go to Heaven if you have none of those things, but God wants you to be a strong, growing Christian. You see, there are people counting on you to give them the good news so they can go to Heaven too. Right before I leave there is one thing Jesus wants you to do for Him. It's something you don't do for me or for the church. But if Jesus stood right here and said, "I want you to do me a favor." Wouldn't you do it? What if it's hard? What if it was simple? Now here is what you can do. The Bible says if you won't be ashamed of Jesus here on earth, He won't be ashamed of you up in Heaven. God wants you to make public what just happened to you. He wants the whole world to know that Jesus came into your life. Only we two know so far. Every Sunday at our church we do that. You could run around your neighborhood with a big sign saying, "I'm a Christian" or wear a T-shirt saying "I'm saved", but in the Bible days God wanted people to make that public in a church. Now, after all the Lord's done for you on the cross, that is not very much for you to do for Him, is it? Wouldn't you be willing to come to church one time for Jesus and make public that you've been saved? Great! Promise? OK!
You know, if you never make it public you are still going to Heaven, but you'll never be as good of a Christian as you could be until you make it public. I'll be honest. The devil does not want you to come Sunday. If you ever get sick, it will be this Sunday. If you ever have a flat tire, it will be this Sunday. If you ever oversleep, it will be this Sunday. He does not want you to come. Now, if you come once and you don't like the church, you don't have to come back. But at least you will have made it public and the Lord will bless you. So, this coming Sunday what I'd like to do is give you a call Sunday morning and come by and pick you up or let you follow me to church. I just don't want you to be embarrassed the first time. We'll sit together. I will introduce you around.. God bless you. I am so proud of you and we'll see you Sunday.
If you just got saved I would like to know, please send me an email so I can rejoice with you! - Andy
E-mail: bro.andy@striv.org