Salvation

I sometimes wonder if there really is a God. How could anyone be certain that they would go to Heaven? With so many religious views on God and heaven, how can I know the truth, and how would I know the difference?

Is there really a God? +

Our existence begs the question, "Why are we here?" The fact that we are here and can ask this question directs our thinking toward a created universe and an infinite Creator. Someone beyond our sphere of intelligence created everything from absolutely nothing; that someone is God. He existed before we did; He is all powerful, changeless, supernatural, and purposeful. He created everything for a purpose, including you and me.

Many atheists have tried to discredit the fact that God exists. One former atheist, Lee Strobel, passionately strived to prove God did not exist. Only after he had sifted through many scholarly scientific journals side-by-side with the Word of God, did he came to this conclusion; "I realized that to stay an atheist, I would have to believe that nothing produces everything; non-life produces life; randomness produces fine-tuning; chaos produces information; unconsciousness produces consciousness; and non-reason produces reason."^[1]This is a man who didn't want to believe in God. He didn't want to believe that anyone's life could be radically transformed, but the evidence for God was far too compelling.

^[1] http://www.gotquestions.org/argument-existence-God.html

In God's Word, the Bible, we are told about a place called Heaven. Jesus said to His disciples that He would prepare a place for us, and would come again, "that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). After His resurrection, He ascended into Heaven (Mark 16:19, Acts 7:55-56) and now acts as our advocate before God the Father (1 John 2:1). Whenever we offend the holiness of God through sin, Jesus Christ acts as our mediator and high priest before God. He cleanses us from sin when we ask for His forgiveness. He purchased us with His shed blood on Calvary's cross. He died for you! He died for me! He acted as our sin offering so we could obtain Heaven. When we confess our sins to Him and believe in His sacrificial death, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead, He saves us and offers us a new life in Him. Only then are we reconciled to God and assured a heavenly eternity. Jesus paid the price for our sin "in order to present [us] before [God] holy and blameless and beyond reproach" (Colossians 1:22). It is then that we have passed from the curse of death to life everlasting.

This is the salvation that God offers us through Jesus. This is why we can cling to our hope of Heaven, because even though we are sinful beings, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Jesus left us with His promise of a place in Heaven. Christ Jesus, God's Son is the only way to God and the only key to Heaven (John 14:1-6). All you need is a child-like belief in Him. Recognize today that your own efforts to obtain salvation have left you frustrated, empty, and lacking eternal security. Come to Him today with child-like humility and receive His all sufficient grace. A glorious eternity awaits you in God's Heavenly Kingdom.