1. Heaven How Do You Expect To Get There?

   Mrs. David E. Crane

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Is this your answer?

When I arrive at the pearly gate, I hope I will be good enough. God says,  “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Or are you saying this?

All roads lead to the same place. You’re taking the road taught by your church and I follow the one taught by mine. We’ll all arrive at the same destination. But God says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Jesus said, “I am the way . . . : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Do you think,

It’s presumptuous to say you know you are going to Heaven. God says, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:10,11).

You may ask,

Why shouldn’t I go to Heaven? I take good care of my children. I pay my taxes. I am upright and honest in all my dealings. But God says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Perhaps you are thinking,

I’m sincere. As long as one is sincere and has faith, that is enough. God says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

Or, do you expect to enter this way?

I come from a good family. My parents were good church members. I was reared in the church. My name has been on the church roll for years. But God says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

You may join those who say,

Why should I want to go to Heaven? Many of my friends aren’t going to make it. We can have good times together in Hell just as well as here. But God says, “In hell he [the rich man] lift up his eyes, being in torments . . . . And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said . . . beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:23-26).

* * *

You Can Know You Are Going to Heaven by Becoming God’s Child “As many as received him [Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “Beloved, now are we the sons [children] of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). “I will come again, and receive you [God’s children] unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). “There shall in no wise enter into it [Heaven] anything that defileth . . . but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

Is YOUR NAME written in this BOOK?

—Mrs. David E. Crane   

Christian Light Publications, Harrisonburg, VA 22802      Phone (540) 434-0768.      www.clp.org

Language

English

Author

Mrs. David E. Crane

Publisher

Christian Light Publications

Topics

Heaven

Hell