YOUR TICKET TO HEAVEN
With all the trouble and turmoil in the world, and the realization of how easily and unexpectedly even our very lives can be taken from us, it is of the utmost importance that each person seriously examines their situation to make sure how they truly stand in relation to life, God, and eternity. Are you certain that you have, so to speak, your
"Ticket to Heaven?"
We know for certain from Scripture what God's intent is. Jesus said specifically
"The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). He also emphatically stated that "/ tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24).
ETERNAL LIFE
But just what, exactly, is eternal life? Many people mistakenly believe that eternal
life is something that you get when you die and go to heaven. Simply put, they believe that God counts up all the good things we've done against all the bad things we've done and if the good outweighs the bad, Saint Peter opens the pearly gates for us and we get to go into heaven and come face to face with God for the first time. But the Bible paints an entirely different picture. Jesus himself defined eternal life in this way: "Now this is
eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."(John 17:3). So then, eternal life is actually found in an ongoing, intimate, personal relationship with God that actually begins now, while our physical body is still alive, and carries on into eternity, beyond the death of our body.
SEPARATED FROM GOD
How then is this life giving, knowing of God achieved? To understand this. it is first necessary to understand the true nature of our condition apart,from God. Because of our
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flawed human nature that we inherited f om Adam, every person, sooner rather than later, sins. The bible states this principle repeatedly. For example, in the book of Proverbs we see it posed as a rhetorical question: "Who can say, 'I have kept my heart pure,
I am clean and without sin '?"(Proverbs 20:9). The book of Romans also tells us explicitly" ... all have sinned and fallen short of tlte Glory of God." (Romans 3:23). The most important thing to realize about the situation is not that after we've sinned wehave so many demerits counted against us, it is rather that the effect of sin on our soul is death. So often, many view sin as something the mean "Old Man upstairs" wants to keep us from doing so we can't have any fun. But the true nature of sin is actually very deadly. It should more properly be viewed as something like strychnine for the soul, or death in a pretty package. The fact of the matter is that for all of us, the time comes when we lose our innocence, and knowing the difference between right and wrong, choose to do wrong and the result is spiritual death that severs our connection with the life of God. The Bible states what has happened in the book of Romans: "/ once was a live apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died."
(Romans 7:9). So the problem facing God now is not merely that we're disobedient, it's that we're dead. In other words, that flawed, sin prone nature is now alive and the dominant aspect of our character, while our true, able to deeply commune with God spiritual self has died. God had to find a way then to reverse this terrible situation so that the old sinful self is put to death and a new, truly holy and spiritual self could be brought to life.
A NEW CREATION
Clearly, the only solution for death is life. This is why Jesus himself proclaimed "/
tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3). He also clearly stated: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying 'You must be born again. "(John
3:6,7) This last statement can be seen not only as a command, but as an opportunity for a new start in life and a fresh beginning with God. This is God's incredible "do over", the ultimate "restart button" whereby we can begin life anew with a clean mind, a clean heart, and a clear conscience.
Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God has provided a way for anyone who desires to do so to have a new beginning, a fresh start in which all our sins are forgiven, the effect and penalty of sin is done away with, and we become a brand newthings have passed away, behold all things have become new." ( II Corinthians person. The Bible tells us that " .... if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old
5: 17). The Apostle Peter also tells us that: "According to his great mercy he has caused
us to be born again to living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (I Peterl: 3)
REPENTANCE AND FAITH
But how, exactly, is this new birth accomplished? How is this new creation brought to life? It is a process that begins with repentance and a desire to do away with our old sinful self and become a new person "... created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.". (Ephesians 4:24). (It is important to note here that even for those who might feel that they are basically a "good person" with no need of transformation, it must be understood that we are also accountable for sins of omission. The Bible says that
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17)
FORGIVEN
So then, by faith we come to God and except that Jesus died in our place for our sins and because of that sacrifice we can know that "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us. "(Psalm 103: 11-12). The great Prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years before Christ was born looked into the future and described his ministry: "Surely he took up our infir:-mities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him the stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.".(lsaiah 53: 4-6)
RAISED TO LIFE
So then, by faith we participate in the death of Jesus and let our old self be crucified with him. But hallelujah, that is only half the transaction, for once the old self has died, the way is open for resurrection, and a new self to be brought to life. In the book of Romans, Paul says "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,just as Christ was raised from the dead through theCHILDREN OF GOD
Once we have received the spirit of God to live within us, the significance of what has happened is truly staggering. In the book of Romans we read: "For you did not receive a spirit that makes us slaves again to fear, but you received the spirit of sons hip. And by him we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15). In some sense, everyone, as descendants of Adam could be considered to be physical children of God, but what we are talking about here is a form of legal adoption that gives us the full rights of an heir. Jesus was appointed by God to be heir of all things (Hebrews 1 :2) but now, Paul goes on in this passage to say: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share his Glory." (Romans 8: 17). This inheritance, Peter tells us, is one that can "... never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you ... ". (I Peter 1:4). It is important to note here that the word "Abba" could literally be translated as "daddy" or "papa" and shows what an intimate, personal, and familiar relationship God wants with each of us.
THE ESSENCE OF SALVATION
Salvation, then, can be summed up in this fashion: first of all, there must be repentance, a turning away from old selfish, self centered way of life and a turning to God with a desire to come alive has a brand new person born of his spirit. This means we accept his blood sacrifice as full payment for our sins and choose to let our old self be crucified and done away with been by faith, we join with him in his resurrection, which causes our new self to be born. Finally, we ask him to send his Spirit to live within us forever.
A SAMPLE PRAYER
A sample prayer might go something like this: "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have broken your laws, and lived in ways that are not pleasing to you and caused hurt to myself and others. I want you to know that I'm truly sorry and I don't want to live like that anymore. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I choose right now to let. the old me die and asked by the power of your resurrection, you cause me to be born again as a brand new person. And now, dear Lord, please send your Spirit to live within my heart forever. ASSURANCE
If you said that prayer from your heart, you are now a born again creation and a true child of the most high God. This does not mean that you are now instantly completely perfect in every area of your life. The Bible says that we're now like newborn· babies and there is a process of growth and maturity (I Peter2:2). The difference is that now we're being transfo1med from the inside out as the life of God within us begins to manifest itself more and more. We don't have to try and do good things to gain God's favor, we do good works and practice righteousness because we have God's favor and out of our love for Him, want to please Him.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
If you have embarked on this wonderful adventure getting to know God and finding
out what an amazing and fulfilling plan he has for your life, it is vitally important that you do three things right away. First and foremost, begin to read the Bible every day, for this is your spiritual life's blood. As a newborn baby in Christ, you need this daily inflow of life from God in order to live, grow, and mature. As a comparison, imagine what would happen if you were to bring home a newborn baby from the hospital and didn't feed it! A good and very doable goal is to read the Bible through in a year. Many Bibles have a schedule you can follow in the back. If not, a reading schedule is easily found online. The second thing is to find, with the Lord's help, a good Bible believing church to become a part of. Again, the purpose is not t earn brownie points from God for your attendance. The purpose is that you become a functioning member of the family of God, and as a family, we share life together! Finally, it is very important that you make arrangements, as soon as is practicable, to be water baptized.
Also, there are a multitude of good online resources to help you in your walk and I can recommend a few that are readily available on You Tube. I highly recommend the films "Is Genesis History?" and "Patterns Of Evidence" to provide a firm foundation for your trust in the truth of God's word. May you be blessed in your search for God! Remember, He has promised "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and ye shallfind; knock and the door will be open to you." (Matthew 7:7) Take heart with this final promise from the Lord: "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever co_mes to me I will never drive away (John 6:37)©
