How Not to Go to Heaven

HOW NOT TO GO TO HEAVEN

John 3:1-17

Verse 12: “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”

Ten year old Cassie lingered in front of the gravestone of her grandparents. “Ellie Roberta and Dennis Alexander Hamilton” were both born in 1930, Cassie read. While Dennis died in 1995, Ellie lived another five years. I never knew them Cassie thought.

Her heart drooped, imagining how fun it would have been to have grandparents spoil her—for at least for a few years. She ran to her mom, who was serving up barbequed chicken and corn on the cob to her family. The cemetery provided pavilions for family get-togethers.

“Hey Mom, are grandma and pop-pop in heaven?” Cassie asked, sitting down at the picnic table.
Cassie’s mom put down the tongs, and looked into her daughter’s eyes when she said, “Yes they are!”
Cassie smiled. She said, “I can’t wait to meet them in heaven one day!”

How does Cassie’s mom know that her parents are in heaven? Believers in Jesus Christ can know for certain where they’ll spend eternity. How can they be sure? Because Romans 10:9 says: “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.”

Belief in Christ is the only ticket that gets anyone into heaven. That’s it. We must not believe faulty theology that says “if you do your best,” or “you’re not bad enough to be condemned,” you’ll go to heaven. Whoever says that ‘you get to heaven by doing good deeds’ is wrong. They’re all lies. In reality, it doesn’t matter what kind of person you are. The truth is found in God’s Word.

John 3:16 says, “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.”

Check out the lesson, linked below, to learn Jesus’ answer about how to enter into the kingdom of God. Being ‘born again’ is a matter of faith. Faith in Christ Jesus. Everyone who believes in Jesus is “born again” into a new creation.

Take Home Nugget

“But how do you know for sure that grandma and pop-pop are in heaven?” Cassie pressed her mom.
“Because they took me to a church where we spoke our faith in Jesus Christ, and that the Father raised Him from the dead,” was her answer.

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