Where will you spend eternity?
We all think about it but what makes people different is some seek answers to their questions and some do not.
The bible talks alot about what is to come after this life on earth. While some say "we just cease to exist", the bible says our soul will live eternally. SO the question is where? Where will you live eternally?
Well, the bible clearly shows there are three things we must know and one thing we must do in order to spend eternity in Heaven.
First thing we must know
The first thing we must know is that we are all sinners. Sin is a transgression or a breaking of a law. Romans 3:23 says "For we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10 says "As it is written there is none righteous, no not one." This is a pretty easy acknowledgement for us because we know were not perfect and none of claim to be do we?
Are you a sinner? I am.
Second thing we must know
The second thing is we must know that there is a penalty for sin. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death" Now understand that death is a physical death, our bodies die, and a spiritual death, our souls die. The physical death is found in Romans 5:12. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" None of us can escape death in our bodies but we can escape the second death, the death of our soul that is found in Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
That list of sins seems pretty severe and you are unlikely to have committed any of those sins except maybe the last one, lying. Even those of us that have told a simple lie will face the second death.
Don't despair just yet. There is some good news.
Third thing we must know
The third thing we must know is found in the second part of a verse we have already discussed. Romans 6:23. The first part said, "For the wages of sin is death" but the second part says this, "but the gift of God is eternal life through in Christ Jesus our Lord" Jesus paid for our sins. That is the significance of him dying on the cross. He died to pay for our sins. Remember in Sunday school learning John 3:16? Let me refresh your memory. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Jesus' death offers us life. We can live eternally in heaven with God if we choose to accept Christ's death as payment in full for our sins.
That brings us to the last thing.
One thing we must do
The one thing we must do is simple. Let's look at what the bible says in Romans 10:9. "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The one thing we must do in order to go to heaven when we die is this, believe in Jesus. Believe that he died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and on the third day rose from the dead. That's why Christians celebrate Easter, Christ arose, and in his hands were the keys to death. Through his sacrifice we are offered the gift of eternal life.
Look at one last verse, Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Crist died for us so that we may live. Do you believe this? If you will trust him to be what will save you from death in eternal anguish then you
too can be assured of an eternal home in heaven when you die.
If this has helped you to know Christ, tell us so that we can celebrate with you. Click here to share your story or here to read more about Christ's gift of salvation.
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