Will you go to Heaven?

Will you go to heaven? More importantly, are you right with God? These questions are too important to get wrong. Therefore, don't go by opinions or feelings to find the answer. Go by what God has told us in His Word. Hebrews 9:27 states, "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." How will you do on Judgment Day? Many people think that God is happy with them and will take them to heaven when they die because they've been  a "good" person. Let‘s take a look at a few of God's commands and see if you've obeyed them. Have you ever lied (Leviticus 19:11)? Revelation 21:8 warns, "...all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Have you ever looked with lust? Jesus said "...whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever taken God's name in vain (Deuteronomy 5:11)? Exodus 20:7 states, “…the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Ever stolen anything (Exodus 20:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? Ever gotten drunk (Ephesians 5:18, 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? Ever consulted a medium or person who claims to talk to the dead (Leviticus 19:31)? Ever dishonored your father or mother (Exodus 20:12)? You can also sin by omission, by not doing something that you should do (James 4:17). Have you always loved your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)? Have you always loved God with all your heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)? Romans 3:11 states, "...there is none who seeks after God." It only takes one sin... James 2:10 warns, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Without a doubt, God's standard is high. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus commanded, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your father in Heaven is perfect." Based on what God has told us, do you think you'll be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day? Will you go to Heaven or Hell? God is good (Mark 10:18) and He is also just (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Therefore, "...he does not leave the guilty unpunished..." (Numbers 14:18). There are many who make the mistake of thinking that they will be forgiven because of good deeds they have done, but the Bible warns that "...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." (Isaiah 64:6). Good deeds don't erase bad ones. The sad truth is that we have nothing to offer God. 'Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin' (Romans 3:20). WE HAVE ONLY ONE HOPE... 

Although we deserve to "...be punished with everlasting destruction..." (2 Thessalonians 1:9), God made a way that we could be forgiven and made right with Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). He sent Jesus to take our punishment upon the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). The Good News is "...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you want to be saved and made right with God, you must have "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Repentance is a "change of mind." It's a change in attitude toward God and sin. According to 2 Corinthians 7:10, “…godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Repent and place your trust in Jesus Christ (John 14:1). Trust in Christ more than you would in a parachute if you were to jump from a plane that was flying at 20,000 feet. You would be counting on that parachute alone to save you. It would be your only hope. Do the same and more with Jesus, trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins. Attending church, being water baptized and doing good deeds are all good things and we should do them; but they cannot save you. God's Word says it's "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Christ Jesus our Savior" (Titus 3:5-6). Eternal life through Jesus Christ is a free gift of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). If you truly do repent and trust in the Lord, God will save you and He will transform you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." A Born-Again Christian lives a life of habitual obedience to the God He loves (John 14; 1 John 1-2). He does this not to be reconciled to God, but rather because God has saved him. After you get right with God, read the Bible daily (1 Peter 2:2) and obey it, see 1 John 2:3; 5:3.