Maybe you’ve heard of God’s Paradise but you’re not quite sure how to get to heaven. Your opportunity will come when this life passes. It reminds me of an old song; “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die”.
It’s a funny song, but very true. Heaven is a place spoken of primarily in the Bible. In order to get there, a person needs to be dead.
This may be the worst part because you are leaving all that you know, including your family and friends. But there is a way to know for sure that you will eventually get to heaven. And surprisingly enough it’s a simple action to take.
Is Getting To Heaven A Difficult Process
Not necessarily. In the Bible, Jesus shared with us “The Parable of the Sower”. He described a farmer casting his seed out on the ground and as he went the seeds fell on different types of ground. The first fell along the path. The birds saw it and ate it.
The second fell on rocky soil which sprang up quickly. But since it had little soil the sun was too strong and it withered.
The third type fell among thorns which soon choked out the seedlings.
The final seeds fell on good soil that allowed the plant to grow and multiply creating many more seeds and plants.
When he explained this parable to the disciples he described the seeds on the path as the gospel falling on the ears of those who don’t understand and what they hear is quickly forgotten (read about the best Christian marriage retreats).
The rocky soil represents those who joyfully receive the news of the gospel but it does not take root so quickly dies away when trouble or persecution comes.
The seeds that fall among the weeds grow but since they are choked out by the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches they do not continue growing.
Finally, the seeds that fall on good earth demonstrate that when the gospel is heard, understood, and accepted the plant that grows multiplies and bears much fruit.
This will be the person who enters the Kingdom of God and eventually heaven at the end of the earthly life (read my Bible reading plan for beginners).
Parables were Jesus’ way of explaining spiritual truths to people who were not educated in theology or deep spiritual matters. In the Parable of the Sower, he was describing himself as the sower, and the seed as the good news of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:1-23).
Is There More Than One Way To Get To Heaven
There are several popular religions; Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, and Christianity. Many folks believe it doesn’t matter which path you choose. They say they all lead to heaven.
However, Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)
He is the only religious leader on record with a teaching like that. So it comes down to “should you believe him?” According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul since Jesus came back from the dead the answer is “yes”.
Jesus frequently referred to the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is a term used over 68 times in the New Testament. It may appear to be a reference to heaven but it is not. It just means a spiritual kingdom ruled over by God.
We enter that spiritual kingdom when we decide to repent of our sins and follow Christ. Then, when this physical life is over, we enter eternity and are forever with our God in heaven.
I’ve heard it explained like this. Imagine you are in a concentration camp in Germany. You’ve heard the war is over but no one has unlocked your gates.
You know you are no longer condemned and you will be rescued but you aren’t yet. Physically you are still in a bad place. But you have the knowledge and the faith that the liberators will be there anytime (read my example prayers for blessings).
You just don’t know when but everything has changed. Because of the truth that you now understand.
Should Getting To Heaven Be The Main Goal
Of course not. But it could be a motivating factor.
Getting to heaven is not the main goal but becoming part of the Kingdom of God is. It’s just that most of us are familiar with the words heaven and hell and think that’s it.
Actually, knowing that there is a spiritual realm and that I am a part of it is liberating, humbling, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. Jesus teaches this. And asks us to answer the door when he knocks so he can come in and have fellowship with us.
“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me.” Revelation 3:20.
Just reading that verse alone makes it clear that Jesus wants a relationship with us here on earth. Not just in heaven. Not just after we die physically (read my article about funny Bible verses).
There are no atheists in foxholes. That’s an old adage that probably would mean more if everyone knew what a foxhole was. It means you’re hiding in a hole, waiting for a bomb to drop on you because you’re in a war.
At the point of death most of us are ready to decide our eternal fate.
How Do You Get To Heaven: 13 Tips To Know To Become a Christian
Although there is really only ONE step, I will break it down into some other parts so you can see what others have done before and after they have given their life to God. The following tips will help keep you on the right track, focused on living for God.
1. To prepare the soil of your heart, read the Gospel of John and the Letter to the Romans in the New Testament.
2. Examine a few other books like CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” or Lee Strobel’s, “The Case for Christianity”.
3. Weigh the cost. Jesus continually reminded his disciples that if they followed him, people would hate them as much as people hated him. And he died on the cross. Rick Warren said it like this: ” How do we go from come and see, to come and die?”
4. Decide you need to be saved. We need to be free from our slavery to sin.
5. “Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin” (Romans 3:9). We need to be saved from God’s wrath because, “by nature we are deserving of wrath” (Ephesians 2:30).
6. Jesus said to Nicodemus “You must be born again”, (John 3:7).
7. Pray the sinner’s prayer….Lord I am a sinner and am sorry. I know that you came to earth to die for me. I accept your free gift of salvation and grace. Please help me to live for you from now on.
8. “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
9. Tell someone. Accountability works and as Proverbs says, “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17).
10. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
11. Pray. Spend time with the Lord on a daily basis.
12. Read the Bible and grow in the knowledge and truth of God. Especially read the Book of James.
This message was written so that Christians would know that while doing good works will not save you, doing good works is one sign of being saved. A little complicated but true.
13. Worship together with other Christians. This might be in a church, Bible study or prayer group.
What Happens If You Make Mistakes and Revert To Your Old Ways
1 John 1:9 tells us that, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness”. Being a Christian doesn’t make us perfect.
In fact it helps us realize just how imperfect we are. Being a Christian makes us grateful sinners saved by grace.
Paul in his letter to the Romans chapter 7 describes how our old nature is at war with the new. It is important to rely on the Holy Spirit living within us to overcome evil with good.
Continually feed and nourish the good in order to starve the evil. Remember that this is a spiritual battle and Christ has already overcome. We are new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Conclusion
Anyone can get to heaven. But it does not depend on doing good works, a balancing a scale of more good than bad, karma or other spiritual device.
Jesus was very clear. “You must be born again.”
Getting to heaven depends on your spiritual condition and nothing else. You may see yourself stuck in a rocky soil or being choked out by the cares of the world but you can cultivate in your heart a place for the gospel to take root and grow.
Read or study or listen to those whose mission it is to spread the true gospel of Jesus. It’s a simple gospel but the best one. While your eventual destination may be a ways off, you can rejoice in being part of the Kingdom of God right here and now. Blessings will follow.
