How Do I Get To Heaven?
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In order to find our way, we need to know where we are now, so we can turn in the right direction. Use the following procedures to reset your compass and find Heaven at the end of your travel.
Step 1 – Stop and Get Your Bearings
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23
This is where the Bible says we are now. We are missing the holy standard of God for Heaven because of sin. Not sure that is your correct location? Let’s try a little test to find out. Have you ever told a lie (even a little white one)? Have you ever taken something that didn’t belong to you (no matter how insignificant)? Have you ever been disrespectful or disobedient to your parents? These are just three of God’s commandments, and you have broken all of them at some time. God says that if you keep the whole law, yet offend in just one point, you are guilty of the whole law. (James 2:10)
Step 2 – Find out Where You are Presently Headed
For the wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23
No matter how good you try to be, the truth is that we are all sinners by nature. We do the wrong thing, even when we know better. God is Holy, and He cannot allow sin into His presence, so we are all condemned to be separated from God. The Bible tells us death is the punishment for sins, and if you die in your sins, you are headed to Hell as a sinner. You are currently on the wrong road.
Step 3 – Get Rid of Excess Baggage
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out… – Acts 3:19
Your sins are separating you from God. In order to come into His presence, you must get rid of them. God tells us that “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) As Jesus met the woman at the well who was living in sin, He told her to go and Sin no more. When we confess our sins, we leave them at the cross.
Step 4 – Change Your Direction
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. – Acts 4:12
This is speaking of Jesus Christ, who is the only way, truth, and life. You have been going the wrong way, trying to save yourself through good works, baptism, church attendance, prayers, etc. (or simply not thinking about where you are going when you die). Salvation is a MUST if you are to reach Heaven. When you repent, you turn away from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to pay for your sins, then rose from the dead to prove that the payment was accepted by God the Father. The Bible tells us that when we repent of our sins, we should also be baptized because of the forgiveness of our sins. (Acts 2:38) Baptism pictures the washing away of our sins, and helps us identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It declares to others that our old way of life has been put to death, and we have been raised to new life with Christ.
Summary
To summarize, here is the only way for you to get to Heaven from where you are right now: Recognize you are a sinner who is lost and on the way to Hell (confess it to God verbally). Repent or turn away from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ (ask Jesus to forgive you and give you new life) Rest in Christ’s complete payment for your sin on the cross, and Believe that He will finish the work He started in you (2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 1:6)Find a church that preaches the Bible and get help from them to start growing in your new life in Christ. If you need help finding a church in your area, contact us.