Do you know where you're going?

I'm like most people.  I don't like to think about death.  But sometimes we are forced to consider it.  You or someone you love is sick.  You or someone you love is a lot older.  Someone you love is now lying in a casket.  You ask the big questions.

Most people believe there is a life after death.  Most people would even say that the life after death is called heaven.  But many people don't know for sure that heaven is where they are going.  Why?  Because they believe they have to be good enough to get there.

The truth is, you're not good enough to get there and you will never be good enough, no matter how hard you try.  God says that to enter His heaven you must be perfect.  That's a problem for you and me!  Despite every good intention we have, we cannot keep from sinning and falling short of God's expectations.  God also says that the penalty for sin is death.  What you and I deserve because of our sins is death.  But God also loves us and wants us to be with him forever.  So He had to do something.

God solved our problem by sending His Son Jesus.  He took the form of a man and kept the law perfectly for us.  Even though He did not sin, He took our punishment for sin on the cross.  We cannot even fathom how He suffered for us, nor can we fathom the love that motivated Him to do it. 

The Bible says that if we will confess that we have sinned against God, we will be forgiven.  When we receive the gift of faith in Jesus Christ, we can know that we will go to heaven one day.  Even faith is not something we can achieve, but is a gift from God.  We can ask Him for faith and when we receive it and we know that Jesus died for our sins in our place, we don't have to question whether or not we will live in heaven.  We can trust it!

But what about doing good, you say?  We can't just believe in Jesus and keep on sinning, can we?  Receiving the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus is what enables us to do good works.  Anything we do in God's name counts!  Anything we do apart from faith in Him, doesn't.  We cannot get to heaven by doing good works, but we show our gratitude for His love by honoring Him with good works.  Those who trust in what Jesus accomplished at the cross will continue to sin, but those sins are no longer counted against us.  That's why it's called the Good News!!!

I highly recommend the book, The Purpose Driven Life, and the movie, the Passion of the Christ.  I am praying that you will put your faith in Jesus Christ and will KNOW where you are going.