How to get to Heaven, Salvation & Eternal Life

The Importance of the Cross

We will all eventually die. If the Bible is correct, then there is an afterlife with heaven, hell and judgement. The question is: What is your plan for getting to heaven?
Many people think, “I’m a reasonably good person. I’ll just do my best and hope for the best.” Others add, “I’ve been baptised, taken communion, attended church, and given to charities. Surely I’ve ticked all the boxes.”

It’s surprising how many people – including some Christians – believe heaven depends on what they do rather than what Christ has already done. Ask them why Jesus died on the Cross, and many struggle to explain its importance. To them, the Cross is simply a symbol of Christianity or an Easter story about a good man who was crucified and then rose again.
Think about it. If salvation could be earned by living a good life, keeping religious traditions or doing enough charitable deeds, then the Cross would be unnecessary. Christ’s death would have accomplished nothing we couldn’t achieve ourselves. Yet the very fact that Jesus came to die for us proves there was no other way. Our sin demanded a perfect substitute, and only Christ could provide it.
The Bible teaches that none of us can save ourselves. We are saved by grace, not by works (Eph. 2:8–9). Even our best efforts fall short of God’s perfect standard (Isa. 64:6). Jesus said we must be born again (John 3:3) and become a new creation in Him (2 Cor. 5:17).
To enter heaven we need God’s perfect righteousness – not our own. That is why Jesus willingly went to the Cross. He took the judgement we deserved so that all who trust in Him could receive the righteousness we could never earn. Through faith in Christ, we are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and given the sure hope of eternal life.
The Cross is not merely the symbol of the Christian faith – it is the very heart of it. Our salvation rests entirely on what Jesus accomplished there. The greatest news in history is that eternal life is not something we achieve; it is God’s free gift, received by faith in His Son.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. 
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

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When God Knocks

A teenage boy was engrossed in a computer game when he heard a knock at the front door. He chose to ignore it.
A few moments later, his mother came downstairs and asked, “Did you answer the door?”
Without taking his eyes off the screen, the boy replied, “I didn’t want to. Someone might have been there, and I’d have to stop my game!”

Many people respond to God in much the same way. We deny His existence for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it is because we simply don’t want Him to exist. We become so absorbed in pursuing possessions, pleasure or personal ambition that we fear acknowledging God might interrupt our plans. Others have accepted naturalistic explanations for life for so long that they regard them as unquestionable fact and are unwilling to consider the evidence for a Creator.
Yet God continually reveals Himself. His handiwork is displayed throughout Creation, His truth is declared in His Word, our conscience testifies to right and wrong, and He often speaks through Christian evangelists, family members and friends who lovingly encourage us to consider His claims. The evidence is there, but many choose not to answer because they suspect that if God is real, their lives may have to change.
God will never force His way into our lives, but patiently knocks and invites us to respond. The One standing at the door is the Creator of the universe, offering forgiveness, new life and eternal salvation. Any change He brings into our lives will only be a change for the better. How tragic it would be to ignore the greatest invitation ever given simply because we were too preoccupied with the passing things of this world. Some interruptions are worth answering.
 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.” Revelations 3:20.

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A Heavenly Proposal

When a man wants to commit to a woman and spend his life with her, it’s tradition for him to buy a ring and ask her to marry him. It’s a bold step that says: ‘I choose you’. But it’s not automatic – the bride must decide whether to accept or reject the proposal. The wise bride will think it over carefully: Can I trust him? Will he be faithful? Will he stand by me through life’s ups and downs? Can he provide, protect, and truly care for me? It’s a life-changing choice.

In much the same way, since the fall of Adam, humanity has been separated from God. But God’s heart is still set on us. He loves us so deeply that He’s made a proposal like no other. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross – a costly, sacrificial offer of eternal life. His ‘ring’ is the cross, extended to us with nail-pierced hands. All we need to do is say yes and accept.
But like any wise bride, we should consider: Is God an acceptable suitor? Will He be faithful? Yes – He promises never to leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Will He protect and care for us? Absolutely – He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). Can He provide for us? He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19). He is the perfect suitor – loving, steadfast, and trustworthy.
If we say yes to this everlasting union, God has promised us eternal health and happiness – a life where there’ll be no more tears, no more pain, and no more death, (Rev. 21:4). He’s also prepared a forever home – a mansion that no one can take away, (John 14:2). God has literally promised us Heaven! It’s the greatest proposal of all time.
But what if we say no? Here’s the sobering truth: God won’t force us to be with Him. Hell isn’t a place where God angrily sends people – it’s simply the place where God isn’t. If we don’t want Him, He must honour that decision. But keep in mind who God is – for without Him, there’s no love, no peace, no provision – just separation. It’s Hell!
So consider carefully. The best proposal you’ll ever receive is God’s offer – it’s eternal life, deep love, unshakable security and a personal slice of heaven. And it’s all yours if you simply say ‘yes’ to Jesus and accept the cross.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. 

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Working Our Way To Heaven

Three men were being chased. Suddenly, they reached the edge of a towering cliff with the ocean crashing against the jagged rocks far below. Looking up, they saw the full moon shining brightly in the night sky. In desperation, they convinced themselves that if they could somehow jump to the moon, they would escape.
The first man, a cripple, hobbled as fast as he could and leapt from the cliff. He travelled less than a metre before plunging screaming to the rocks below.
The other two agreed that he simply hadn’t jumped far enough. So the second man, of average fitness, took a running leap. He soared five metres through the air before he too disappeared into the darkness below.
The last man was the strongest of the three. Convinced that greater effort would succeed where the others had failed, he took an even longer run-up. Sprinting at full speed, he launched himself from the cliff with outstretched arms, straining to reach the moon. He flew an impressive eight metres – yet he also fell screaming to the rocks below. What he failed to grasp was that the moon was over 356,000 kilometres away.

The gap between our righteousness and God’s righteousness is even greater. It is the difference between imperfection and perfection, the finite and the infinite. Trying to earn our way into Heaven by good works is like trying to jump to the moon. Some people may appear more moral than others, but compared with God’s perfect holiness, we all fall hopelessly short.
If we could earn our salvation, Christ died needlessly on the cross. But we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ – not by our own efforts (Eph. 2: 8-9). Good works are the result of salvation, never the means of obtaining it.
The question each of us must answer is simple: Will we trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, or will we keep trying to make the impossible leap by our own merit? No matter how impressive our efforts may seem, every leap falls short unless we trust the One who came down from Heaven to lift us up.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

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Joining the Royal Family

Once upon a time, four neglected children lived with a cruel, selfish stepfather. He cared nothing for their wellbeing. They wore tattered clothes, often went hungry and lived in constant fear of his violent temper. Their future looked bleak.
Then one day everything changed. The stepfather was arrested for the murder of their mother and taken away to await his sentence. The children were left alone with no home, no security and no one to care for them.
When news of the tragedy spread, a kind prince offered to adopt the children. He met with them personally and explained that all the legal arrangements had been completed. Every expense had been paid, and he solemnly promised to always love, protect and provide for them as his own. All they had to do was sign the adoption papers. The moment they did, they would exchange rags for royal robes, fear for security and hopelessness for a future filled with love. They would become members of the royal family and share the prince’s inheritance.
Surely every one of them would eagerly accept such an astonishing offer. But one child refused. He spat on the adoption papers, kicked the prince in the shin and declared that he would rather grow up like his wicked stepfather.

This simple story illustrates a profound spiritual truth. Satan is the present ruler of this fallen world, but his judgement has already been declared and his final sentence is certain (Rev. 20:10). God, in His great love, desires to rescue us from that cruel master. He has done everything necessary to make us His children, sending His Son, the Prince of Heaven, to pay the full cost of our adoption. All we must do is accept Christ by faith. The moment we trust Him as our Saviour, we are adopted into God’s family and become heirs of an eternal Kingdom.
How tragic it would be to reject such a generous offer. Those who turn away from Christ will ultimately share Satan’s final destiny, but those who trust in Him become children of God, receive everlasting life and an inheritance beyond anything this world can offer. The King of kings is still inviting people to become part of His royal family. Will you accept His invitation?
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him may be saved.  John 3:17

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Same Snake - Different Skin

Snakes have the curious habit of shedding their old skin in favour of a new one. As they grow, their old skin is cast off, revealing a new layer beneath. Yet no matter how many times they shed their skin, it is still the same snake.

Many people believe they can get into Heaven by changing their behaviour – shedding their old skin through moral reform. But outward change is not the message of the Gospel.
When Adam lost the rulership of this world to Satan (the spiritual serpent), all mankind suffered the consequences and became part of the devil’s kingdom. Through Adam’s original sin, we inherited a sinful nature that God cannot allow into His holy kingdom (Rom. 5:12).
No matter how respectable we think we are or how many good deeds we perform, we will always fall short of God’s perfect standard (Rom. 3:23). We may impress other people with our reformed ways, but beneath the new skin we are still the same old snake. Our problem is not merely how we behave; it is who we are by nature. The only way we can enter Heaven is by becoming a new creature.
That is why Jesus said we must be “born again”. Salvation is not self-improvement but spiritual rebirth. The moment we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God gives us new spiritual life. We can do nothing to earn or deserve this gift. Jesus Christ accomplished everything on the cross by paying the full penalty for our sin.
When we believe in Christ, God credits us with Christ’s perfect righteousness. We are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and become a new creation in Him. We are reborn in Christ – a Christian. As Ephesians 2:8–9 declares: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
If good works could save us, there would have been no need for God to come to earth as a Man and die in our place. The wonderful news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to spend our lives trying to do the impossible by becoming good enough for God. Jesus has already done everything necessary for our salvation. All that remains is for us to trust Him, receive His free gift of eternal life, and be born again.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

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Maggots

Hundreds of maggots wriggled in alarm when a man opened his lunch box and discovered it was infested.
‘Don’t stress,’ said one maggot to his squirming mates. ‘This bloke won’t mind us being here. We’re respectable, clean maggots. We’re nothing like those filthy maggots on the other side of the sandwich. Just look at them; absolutely revolting, regurgitating all over his polony. Honestly, those disgusting maggots deserve to be thrown out.’
But it soon became clear that the man didn’t see things the same way. He didn’t stop to judge which maggots were cleaner, better behaved, or more respectable. Repulsed by every single one of them, he tipped the whole lot – self-righteous maggots included – straight into the bin.

That’s a confronting picture, but it points to an even deeper truth. No matter how good we think we are, or how depraved we believe others to be, we all fall hopelessly short when measured against God’s perfect standard. We might ask how God could possibly allow criminals like mass-murderers or child-abusers into Heaven. In our eyes, they seem utterly beyond saving. Yet in God’s sight, all of us are equally guilty – every one of us a ‘maggot’ in need of mercy.
Here’s the good news: God doesn’t deal with us on the basis of what we deserve. If He did, we’d all be headed for the bin. Instead, He deals with us by grace. God stepped into our mess by becoming a man – Jesus Christ – and paid the full price for sin through His death. Salvation isn’t earned by being a ‘better maggot’; it’s received by trusting in what Christ has already done for us. He forgives all sin because of the death of Christ. If anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ they will be saved, not through works lest any ‘maggot’ should boast. (Romans 3:10, Ephesians 2: 8-9). That’s what makes the gospel so freeing, humbling, and hopeful. No boasting. No comparing. Just grace – offered to all who believe.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

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Humanity's Decision

God created a great ship called Decision to protect humanity from a sea of hellish-lava. The ship had one deck, divided into three areas. God placed all people on the middle deck called, Choice. On the starboard side stood Jesus Christ; on the port side, Satan. God gave humanity one task: choose your captain with whom you wish to sail.
Jesus urged those on the Deck of Choice to come to him quickly – he held the way to Heaven. Soon, the gates separating the decks would close, and the time for choosing would end.
Satan shouted back, insisting there was plenty of time. He lit dazzling fireworks, luring many to his side.
Jesus told the people he had made an Eternal-life Jacket for everyone and pleaded with them to join him and receive everlasting life.
Satan laughed loudly, saying Christ was a fool – humanity’s ship was unsinkable.  They didn’t really need a captain; in fact, they could all be their own captains. He then lit more fireworks to dazzle humanity. Many people laughed at Jesus with his silly life-preserver and wandered over to Satan.
Yet, many remained undecided, listening to both but refusing to choose. Jesus implored them again, pointing to the life jackets – assuring them no one would be turned away. Some hurried over to him, but many stayed on the mid-deck.
Satan kept shouting for people to ignore Christ’s warnings and watch his grandest firework of them all. The undecided stayed to see it, believing they had more time. But the firework spun out of control, slamming into the ship’s bow. A great explosion tore the hull open, and hellish-lava flooded in. The gates slammed shut, trapping each person where they stood. The Ship of Decision began to sink.
Jesus wept as the unused Eternal-life jackets slid into the lava. He told his followers to pull the cords on their life-preservers. Instantly, Wings of Righteousness appeared, lifting them to Heaven. Jesus was the last to leave, heartbroken as the others plunged into the lava – none of them needed to be there.
As he rose, those left behind on the Deck of Choice cried out that they hadn’t made their decision. Jesus called back, "The time for choosing is over."
"But we didn’t choose Satan!" they protested.
"No, but you didn’t choose me either," Jesus said sadly. "Humanity’s voyage is over – it was as inevitable as death. Only those who believed in me have been given the means of escape. The rest must go down with the ship."
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

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Colours of Heaven

How can we describe colour to the blind or sound to the deaf?  These things must be experienced for true appreciation.  To those who are blind or deaf, colour and sound remain an academic concept.   However, there are operations that enable a percentage of blind to see and deaf to hear. 

Heaven is beyond our frame of reference.  We are both blind and deaf to understanding the realities of ‘Eternity’.  The Bible states very little of what Heaven is like.  It says more of what is not there: no more tears, sickness, pain, sorrow, death... (Revelations 21:4). We can’t possibly imagine a place without these things. 
In the Bible, God wastes little time describing a place we humans cannot comprehend (John 3: 12).  How can the inexpressible be explained to finite beings that have neither the senses nor capacity to understand? However, one day we will understand; all it takes is a terminal operation – death.  For those who believed in Jesus Christ this operation has a 100% success rate – resurrection, (John 14:2-3).  
It is natural to be nervous about death; no one likes the thought of an operation, but we should keep our mind on the glorious outcome: resurrection and the gaining of new senses in order to appreciate all the wonders of Heaven.  For those in Christ, it will be a time of great celebration and amazing revelation.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2: 9.   

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The Road to Salvation

A tourist heard of a special place known as, ‘Eternal-Salvation’ where everlasting accommodation was said to be free.  She eagerly grabbed her pack and headed off to see if the claims were true. 
As she approached, a wild looking man ran up to her speaking gibberish and laughing madly.  He welcomed her to Salvation and told her that if she wished to enter she would have to be his servant, follow his ways and give him all her money.  In disgust, the tourist thought: ‘These Christians are insane - I want nothing to do with them or their “so-called” free Salvation.’  She quickly turned around and decided never to return.
Meanwhile, inside the glorious town, the citizens scratched their heads in frustration.  They could not understand why so few tourists visited Eternal-Salvation – they were completely unaware that the village idiot was scaring them all away.

Eternal salvation is a free gift – there is no cost.  God paid the account on the cross through Jesus Christ.  However, it can be very hard for the ‘Unbelieving-World’ to see the truth of Christianity through the forest of village idiots.  The world is filled with cults and crazy religions all claiming to be doing God’s will, but their obvious greed and weird practices are bringing the Truth into disrepute, (2 Peter 2:1-3).  Sadly, these way-out teachings are the most vocal and the ‘Unbelieving-World’ judges all Christianity by the village idiots. 
Any person wishing for eternal salvation should ignore the village idiots and freely enter.  It is a GIFT from God which cannot be worked or paid for.  The price was completed paid on the Cross by Christ – nothing can be added.  We either accept the ‘gift of salvation’ or reject it.
The Bible clearly states: For grace you have been saved through faith (accepting Christ’s gift) that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. 

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After-life Insurance

It is sensible to insure life and property against possible loss or damage.   Most of us have insurance policies which guarantee compensation to save us in time of disaster - those who don’t, usually wished they had.

We may have covered ourselves with insurance in this life, but have we covered ourselves after this life?  What policy do we have to save us from divine judgement and eternal damnation?  We may have life insurance, but do we have ‘after-life insurance’?  
There is only one policy that saves us in the hereafter – John 3: 16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ 
Belief in Jesus Christ is all it takes to avoid eternity in Hell.  It is such a simple insurance policy to take out and it costs us nothing (Christ paid the price on the cross).  All that is required is a spare second and the tiniest bit of faith to believe in Christ for God to insure and eternally guarantee that when we die we will be in Paradise forever.
We have nothing to lose by believing in Christ and everything to gain.  DON’T DIE UNINSURED.  How sorry we’ll feel after realizing it was so easy to insure life hereafter.
John 3:36 states: He who believes in the Son (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  

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When the Clouds Part

Even when the sun is hidden behind thick clouds or out of sight at night, we know it’s still there. In fact, our very survival depends on it – if the sun ceased to exist, so would we.

Many ask: ‘If God is real, why doesn’t He just reveal Himself?’ But God is not hiding. Like the sun behind the clouds, He has always been present. We may not see Him face to face, but His fingerprints are everywhere: the beauty and complexity of creation, the fine-tuned laws of the universe, the moral compass within our hearts, and our deep longing for meaning – all point to Him. The Bible says in Romans 1:20: For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.
Still, people demand that God should prove Himself in a way that satisfies human terms. But there are good reasons why God does not fully reveal Himself in this life:
• Sin has separated us. Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been distanced from God’s full presence.
• His glory would overwhelm us. In our current, fallen state, we could not endure His full majesty (Exodus 33:20).
• Faith must be real. If God’s commanding presence was obvious, belief would be automatic and from fear, not chosen.
God gave us free-will. Love cannot exist without choice, and He will not force Himself upon us. God wants genuine relationship, not forced obedience. But since humanity’s fall, sin has separated us from Him. That’s why God Himself stepped into our world in the person of Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:5-8). He paid the full penalty for sin so the way back to Him could be freely offered to all. The choice is now ours. Will we accept His offer of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ?
Every day, an estimated 150,000 people die – that’s roughly 106 people every minute – each stepping into eternity and meeting their Creator. For those who refused to believe because God didn’t meet their terms, the clouds will one day part and the proof they demanded will be undeniable. By then, the only question that will matter is: ‘Did you accept or reject Jesus Christ?’ The consequences are eternal.
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11

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Accepting a gift.

A gift is something paid for by another person and given freely – no strings attached. We do not earn or deserve a gift; otherwise, it would no longer be a gift, but a payment, wage or reward. Yet even when a gift is offered, it only becomes ours when we freely accept it.

God has given humanity the greatest gift of all. He humbled Himself and came into the world as a man – Jesus Christ – and willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. He did this so that anyone who chooses to believe in Him may receive everlasting life in Heaven instead of judgement.
The Bible makes it clear that salvation is not something we can work for or earn. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “…it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” If salvation could be achieved through our own efforts, then Christ’s sacrifice would not have been necessary. The cross shows that our sin-debt was too great for us to pay ourselves, but not too great for God’s love and grace.
All that remains for us to receive everlasting life is to accept it by faith. Like any gift, it must simply be received. We do not contribute to it, pay for it, or deserve it. Jesus Christ paid for it completely.
John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His uniquely born Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” When a person believes in Christ, everlasting life becomes their permanent possession. God does not take back His gifts. Since we did nothing to earn salvation, we can do nothing to maintain it or lose it. Eternal life rests on God’s promise and Christ’s finished work, not on human performance.
Imagine eternally regretting the refusal of God’s greatest gift. The good news is that receiving it is not complicated – it comes through simply believing in Christ and accepting by faith what He has already paid for. As it is freely given – it must be freely received.
Jesus said in John 6:40, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

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