How can a person get to heaven, rather than go to hell?

Dear Friend,

Please seriously consider what I outlined below. I beg you for your sake that you stop reading this for a moment and ask God to help you open your heart and mind before continuing to read. Just simply ask that God help you.

Go ahead! I'll just wait.....................................................................................

Are you done yet?

Yet?

Ok. I prayed to God for judgment and wisdom before I wrote this. In March 2001, I had a life changing experience. I have felt such an awaking in my soul it is hard to believe. My relationship with my wife and kids has its trials, but has never been better. More than that I have a sense of peace and purpose like I have never had before.

Don't tune me out now. You're not tuning me out, are you?

Ok. My secret is FAITH in Jesus Christ.

Did someone ever ask you if you knew somebody. They may have either been asking if you know who that person is, or whether you have a personal relationship with that person. I can say that I know Gary Williams (Go Terps - I had to get that in). I have met him, but he certainly would not know me. My Dad on the other hand could say he knows Gary, because he has spoken in depth with him while the Baseball Coach at Maryland. They had a personal relationship.

Before March 2001, I would have told people that I knew God and Jesus. But I realize now that I would have meant that I knew who they were. I knew the stories about Jesus. I knew that God created the world. I even thought that I was going to go to heaven. I figured I was generally a good person (except for that time I.....I'll leave that for another story). My biggest issue was that I didn't know for sure whether I was going to heaven, or how to get there.

I realized that no one had ever shared with me how the Bible answered the question "How do I get to heaven?" I'm not talking about a denominational thing. God is not going to have sections in heaven. Catholics over here, Baptists in the back; Pentecostals in front; etc.

The only thing God will see is His children. Those that get there will get there by F.A.I.T.H.!!!!!!! Faith is a believing trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, for your personal salvation. The Bible (God's Word) teaches us the following (don't trust me, look up these verses to check me). You can reject me all you want, but I pray you won't reject the Bible, God's word, for to do so is to reject God.

The Bad News:

The first thing to consider is whether you are a good person. Most will say "Yes!". If compared to the next guy, most of us are good by man's standard. Let us consider though how we stand up to the following questions:

1) Have you ever lied? Yes, I have too.

2) Have your ever stolen something, not matter the value? Ok, me too.

3) Have you looked at someone who is not your spouse, to lust after them? Jesus says if you have you have committed adultery in your heart. Yes, I am also guilty.

4) Have you ever hated someone? Jesus again says this is murder in the heart. Me? Guilty again

5) Have you ever used God's name as filty cuss word? Me too, that is blasphemy!

If like me, and everyone, you are guilty of all these. These are only 5 of the 10 Commandments. It is a safe bet that all have not put God first all the time; have crafted in our minds a God that will wink and laugh at our sin (idolatry); not obeyed and honored our parents; wanted something another had (covetness); and have not kept the Lord's Day Holy.

If your died tonight and were judged according to the 10 Commandments, according to your own admissions, you would be guilty and know it. Your feel that guilt becaused the Bibles says that God put His Moral Law on our hearts (Romans 2:14-15).

Now imagine you stood guilty of murder among other things, before a judge of a State with a mandatory death penalty. You say "Judge, I know I am guilty of murder, but have done all these good things and am really sorry, please let me go" Can he? Of course not. Why then do so many think that God will just wink at their sin (including murder) because they think they have done so many good things? Our good works have no bearing, because we have transgressed God's law. It does sound foolish when we really think our goodness will impress God, doesn't it?

Now consider that you and I were driving somewhere, and I got pulled over for speeding. The fine was $200.00, and the law was going to lock me because I didn't have the money. Suddenly you remember you have $200.00 and are willing to give it to me, without having to pay anything back. It would be a free gift. It my choice! If I refuse your gift, I go to jail, but if I will trust you are actually giving it to me and receive your gift, I go free and the debt is paid. I am not let go because of anything I did, but because you paid my fine.

All of us are transgressors of God's law, and are therefore on death row (John 3:18). The Law calls for death, eternity in hell, and we know we are deserving if we are honest. But Jesus tells us to repent and recognize Him as the Lord of our life, and foir those who will, He offers to pay our fine with His own death.

Just as in the speeding ticket, if someone else pays your fine, justice is served and you go free. Your choice becomes whether to receive the free gift offered by Jesus Christ death and resurrection, or stay on death row, headed for eternity isolated in hell. If this bad news applies to you, and it does, please read on to see the good news! Understanding why you need Jesus as your Savior, will hopefully make the good news make sense.

Good News:

All you need is F.A.I.T.H

"F" is for Forgiveness

We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness!

"In Him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins". - Ephesians 1:7

Forgiveness of the transgressions we admitted to above. Think that God doesn't care about lying?

"all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. " - Revelation 21:8b

"A" is for Available

Forgiveness is available. It is

Available for all -

"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16

But is not automatic -

"Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of Heaven". Matthew 7:21

God wants all to go to heaven, so He left the directions in the Bible. In John 3:3-7 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus (a Jewish Leader) and says "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God". (I thought the term born again was a right winged wacko term, until I read that. Look it up). Nicodemus said to Him. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God". "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". "Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again".

Are you "Born Again?"

"I" is for Impossible:

It is impossible for God to allow sin into Heaven! He cannot look upon it because He is Holy.

God is Love - See John 3:16 above

God is Just - "For judgment is without mercy". James 2:13 so don't wait to get right with the Lord and accept His gift

Man is Sinful - "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Romans 3:23 (you proved it above)

If God cannot look upon sin (otherwise He would have to judge and send the sin and person to hell), how can a sinful person (all of us) enter Heaven (where God does not allow sin)?

"T" is for Turn;

W need to turn from the direction we are heading

Turn means to repent! To look at the things we used to do that were against God and detest them.

We need to turn from sin and self - "But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish". Luke 13:3b

We need to turn to Someone; trust Jesus Christ only (not man)

The Bible tells us "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the scriptures". - 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4

Only through the coverage of Jesus' blood, shed on the cross, can we be made white as snow in front of God the Father. But as I pointed out earlier is not automatic.

The Bible says we must ask for it by professing our belief:

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

"H" is for Heaven or eternal life

It is to be here - "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" - John 10:10b

It is also to be hereafter - "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you shall be also". John 14:3

How then can a person have God's forgiveness, assurance of heaven rather than hell, and eternal life? Through coverage of Jesus' blood that comes from asking Him to be your personal Lord and Savior.


Picture yourself on one side of a door and Jesus on the other. You have a door knob, He does not. He certainly wouldn't need one, except, He is such a loving God that he won't force himself on you. He waits knocking, hoping that you will eventually hear Him and invite Him in and recognize Him as Lord. It is your choice whether to open the door and receive Him and His pardon. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me". Revelations 3:20

Can you feel Him knocking on your heart? I know you can. God cannot lie. So if you open the door, he says He will come in. If He comes in as He promises, you will have the Son of God.

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (Jesus). He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12

Do you have the Son (Jesus)? Unless you are absolutely sure, please consider opening that door through prayer. Do you have an ear? Will this be your time to hear? Can't you feel the welling up inside your heart as if it will burst? GOD IS TALKING TO YOUR HEART! JESUS KNOCKS, PLEASE LET HIM IN.

Faith also stands for:

Forsaking All I Trust Him - Do you trust that Jesus' blood was shed for you and He arose from the dead, proving victory over death? Do you trust that His blood is your redemption, the forgiveness of sins? Do you trust Him to be the Lord of your life?

Salvation is a humble prayer away. Your assurane is in having the Son (Jesus). I pray that you understand what I have shared from the Bible, that you might truly repent from all your sin, and turn to Him by asking for and receiving this forgiveness by trusting in Christ as Lord and as your personal Savior. The Bible explains this is not a process of works of the law. It is too late for that, we already broke them. This is a covenant to repent and live out of a deliberate act of faith. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Romans 6:23. Will you turn from self and sin, serve Him in love, and accept His gift of eternal life with Him in heaven? If so, pray to Him now, you could use the prayer below, but know it is better to come from your own words and heart:

"Dear Heavenly Father:

I have sinned against You by breaking Your Commandments. Despite the conscience You gave me, I have looked with lust and therefore committed adultery in my heart. I have lied, stolen, failed to love You, failed to love my neighbors as myself, and failed to keep the Sabbath holy. I have been covetous, harbored hatred in my heart and therefore been guilty of murder in Your sight. I have used Your holy name in vain, have made a god to suit myself, and because of the nature of my sin, I have dishonored my parents. If I stood before You in Your burning holiness on Judgment Day; if every secret sin I have committed and every idle word I have spoken came out as evidence of my crimes against You, I would be utterly guilty, and justy deserve hell. I am unspeakably thankful that Jesus took my place by suffering and dying on the cross. He was bruised for my iniquities. He paid my fine so that I could leave the courtroom. He revealed how much You love me. I believe that He then rose from the dead (according to the Scripture). I now confess and forsake my sin and yield myself to Him to be my Lord and Savior. I will no longer live for myself. I present my body, soul, and spirit to You as a living sacrifice, to serve You in the furtherance of Your Kingdom. I will read Your Word daily and obey what I read. It is solely because of Calvary's cross that I will live forever. Iam eternally Yours.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

How I pray that God has allowed you an "ear to hear". Maybe you have just accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Maybe you have been searching for truth, fulfillment, and peace. I will pray for you, if you would like. I want nothing but what God has in store for you. His will. His will is obvious, that you recognize Him as Lord and Savior; thereby, become"born again" and enter the kingdom of heaven. The Bible states it clearly. It is so simple, I can not believe it took 38 years for me to hear this message and accepted the Lord. Thank God that He allowed me to live long enough to accept Jesus as my Savior and Lord.

God doesn't promise you another day to consider your option. The Bible clearly states that you are going to hell, unless you take steps otherwise.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

He is your path, your only gate to heaven. Please accept His gift. You have nothing to lose, but plenty to gain. Pray the prayer believing and trusting in Jesus. May God Bless You My Friend (Brother/Sister when you accept Christ) - Please let me know if I can answer any questions, or help you find a good Bible Church, where you can grow and serve Jesus. Remember why you received Him, to avoid sure judgment and condemnation for your transgressions. Remember you were guilty as changed. Now, if you prayed and received Jesus, He has paid your fine, and you can go free from the debt of your former sins, and free from the bondage to sin. Now you must flee sin and be in bondage to righteousness, but He will help you, and clean you up when you stumble (1 John 1:9). Remember to walk in His Light (1 John 1:7), avoid willfull sins (Hebrews 10:23-31) by holding fast your profession of faith. Strengthen your faith by adding to it virtue (desire to live holy), knowledge (be in His Word the Bible daily), temperance (beware of your temper), godliness (abstain from even the appearance of evil as you live obedient to His Word), brotherly kindness (help others in faith, stay in faith), and develop charity or the agape love of God for others and share Jesus with the. 2 Peter 1:10 promises if you add these to your faith, and they abound, you will never fail of salvation. Allow the goodness of God to keep drawing you in love along your Christian walk, but allow the severity of God to keep you from going back to the world, or choosing your own ways (Romans 11:17-23). Consider reading "Pilgrim's Progress" to help understand the journey and pit falls along the way, as you strive to enter in, and diligently seek after the Lord.

How then shall we live? Obediently, out of love and gratitude, to the one how saved you with His life. If I saw you were about to be hit by a car, and dove to knock you out of the way, but lost my legs in the process, would you ever again be so careless crossing? Now that you know the heavy price Christ paid for your sins, go in the Spirit and sin no more! If I had saved you and lost my legs, and had been busy with a project, I could no longer do, and you heard what I was doing, wouldn't it be fair to ask if you could help me complete that task? For this reason, as saved by His death, he left by asking us to go and be waitresses of His truth and love. We are to tell the gospel message, both the Bad News (severity of God) on those who never turn to God, or turn away; and then the Good News (goodness) of those who come to Him and remain in His goodness; so people can understand their need and get saved and endure to the end for Jesus Christ our Lord. We are also to make disciples, that is to teach others God's truth from His scriptures The Holy Bible. It certainly is reasonable for us to live right and fulfill His will. May God use you to do this right where you are. Please - Minister Where You Are!

Jack Jackson - (w) 800-574-2731

Bondservant of Jesus Christ