How do I get to Heaven?
6 minute read
June 14, 2019
On this typically steamy summer day in Fort Worth, Texas, my thighs stuck to the leather driver’s seat of our 9 year old suburban as my son asked from the backseat,
“Mommy? How do I go to heaven?”
This was the fourth or fifth time his curious heart had asked in the last month, and if you are a mom of littles who have not had this convo, please, please do not feel less than or behind - we have a very, VERY chatty child who sponges up everything we say, for better or for worse. That aside, I replied again with a smile, “So buddy, we get to go to heaven when we ask Jesus to live in our hearts. We do this when we say sorry we do those bad things we don’t want to do but keep doing them - remember those are called sins? We tell Jesus we believe He came to earth to save us when he died - and where did he die buddy?”
“On the cross! And He rose again!” chirps Field.
“Yep, exactly right. And we believe when He did this, He died for allllll those bad things we’ve done and will continue to do so we can be with God forever in heaven. And we also believe Jesus is coming back one day! Are you ready to ask Jesus to live in your heart today?”
I was fully anticipating, “No Mommy. I’m not ready yet.” as I’d heard the previous few weeks when, “Yes, Mommy. I’m ready!” sailed through the backseat.
Cue my sharp left into the Frost Bank parking lot where I threw the car in park under a shady tree, ripped my sweaty skin from the leather seat as I hopped out of the car and looped around to his carseat. I yanked the door open and smiled, “Ok buddy! Let’s pray!”
Just about every other time we’d prayed in Field’s almost 4 years, he typically would not close his eyes, or he continued to eat his food, or basically just held his breath for us to stop talking so he could tell us the latest and greatest dino fact.
But this time, he squeezed his little hands together, closed his eyes tightly and tucked his chin to his chest to bow his head. He repeated every single word I said with glee. When we finished praying*, I gave him a huge hug and floated to the driver’s seat.
I clipped my seat belt and put the car in reverse as Field exclaimed to his 17 month old little sister, “Cecca! I’m going to heaven!”
It’s really that easy.
In our day of go and do and be with caveats and fine print, this seems too simple. Where’s the catch? What are the prerequisites?
That’s just the thing. There aren’t any pre-reqs except one: Are you a sinner? Great, you’re qualified.
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, so that WHOEVER believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God sent Jesus, while we were still sinners, knowing we would continue to be sinners, to die for us because he didn’t want to live without us1. He doesn’t want to live without YOU! He knows every hair on your head2, He knows every insecurity in your heart, He knows every mistake you ever made and will make in the future3. And he STILL loves you so much He wants to be with you forever!
And the only way for that to happen is through Jesus: John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.”
Without Jesus, we are sentenced to death. 4 Eternal separation from Him in the worst place you can imagine. 5 I’m not trying to hellfire and brimstone you, but it’s really that serious, hell really is that real - and the anecdote really is this simple:
Admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior. 6
Believe Jesus came down from His throne in Heaven for you, 7 lived a perfect life on earth, died on the cross for your sins, 8 rose again (thus defeating death), 9 and He is coming back one day. 10
Commit your life to Christ by asking Jesus to live in your heart and to be Lord of your life. 11
Die to self by surrendering your life to God’s will with the hope and belief your faith is now secure forever. 12
Eternal life is now yours! 13 The Holy Spirit now dwells within you! 14 Put on your new self in Christ! 15 You only have to do this one time, and your eternity in heaven is secure 16 . You have a room, a place at the table, and your name is written in the book of life. 17,18
If you are tired of living in the loop of seeking approval from others, placing your hope in mere man, and feeling drowned in guilt for your past - come onnnnnn! His arms are wide open, and He meets you right where you are.
Or maybe this is you?
You asked Jesus to live in your heart a long time ago, but you’ve been living in sin and turning away from Him. Come onnnnn back! His arms are wide open, and your eternity is already secure in Him!
Or maybe this?
You think this is bogus, it is make believe, and I brainwashed my son.
Will you hear me out?
Every other religion in the world makes attaining heaven about the work YOU do. It’s about doing the work and good deeds to measure up to some unwritten level of morality or goodness.
Here’s the reality though: You’re actually not a good person. I’m not either! This world is fallen and broken, and so are we. There is no measuring stick!
We all have darkness and baggage and sticky lies we cannot seem to rid. Without Christ, we’re stuck in them, and we’ll die in them. We’re in too deep. The sin is too filthy and too relentless.
BUT BUT BUT.
In His grace, He came to save you! By HIS grace, through YOUR faith he equips you with! 19 That’s it! Grace! Love! Mercy! His yoke is easy and his burden is light.20 Yoke yourself to the only one who can save you from yourself. His arms are wide open, He knows you by name, and He meets you exactly where you are.21
If any of this rings true for you...
I’ll ask you the same question I asked Field, “Are you ready to ask Jesus to live in your heart today?”
*If the answer is yes, please pray this prayer:
Father God, I am a sinner. I need a Savior from myself and from my sins. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to earth to die for me. I believe He died on the cross and defeated death by rising again after 3 days. I believe all of my sins are now forgiven because of Jesus! Jesus, will you please come live in my heart and be Lord of my life? I want to surrender my life to your will God, and I believe through your grace alone I am saved.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Guess what? You’re going to heaven!
Now what?
Tell somebody! Tell me! Phone a friend! Shout it from the rooftops!
Grab a Bible. I recommend this or this or this or this.
Find a church home. Now is a great time to join because you can virtually worship with just about any church in town! If you need guidance on where to start - please do not hesitate to ask.
Pray and Study God’s Word. Use this as a guide for how to pray and use this as a guide for how to study the Bible.
Put on your new self in Christ, and ask Him to guide you through your day, believing the Holy Spirit who now lives in your heart will help convict you of your sins and lead you onto the paths of righteousness!
Closing with this very important note:
When you accept Jesus as your Savior, he’s the only one.22 We aren’t hedging our bets and saying Jesus, plus Buddhism with a side of luck and a sprinkle of mythology. He’s it. He is jealous for you, and He wants all of your heart! Christ alone is the only way to heaven. Period, end of sentence.
Verses referenced herein for further study:
Romans 5:8
Luke 12:7
Psalm 44:21
Romans 6:23
Revelation 14:11
Proverbs 28:13
John 6:38
2 Corinthians 5:21
Luke 24:6-7
Hebrews 9:28
Romans 10:9
Ephesians 1:13
John 5:24
2 Timothy 1:14
Ephesians 4:22-24
Romans 8:38-39
John 14:2
Malachi 3:16
Ephesians 2:8
Matthew 11:28-30
John 6:37
John 14:6