Can we know we are going to heaven?

Randy Alcorn in his book Heaven tells the story of Ruthanna Metzgar , a professional singer, and her husband who were invited to the wedding of a very wealthy man. She was the singer at the ceremony. Afterwards the couple went to one of the most prestigious venues in the area for the wedding feast. They climbed the stairs to the reception area glimpsing the most sumptuous food and wines being offered by waiters, tables laden with all manner of delicacies and decorated with ice sculptures.

At the top of the stairs a Maître d’ had a book with all the names of invited guests but when Ruthanna told him their name, he could not find it in the book. She explained that she was the singer at the wedding but the maître d’ was adamant, only those whose names were in the book would be allowed to the feast. Her name was not there.

He ordered a waiter to show the couple to the service lift where he pressed the button for the garage in the basement. In the car on the way home, her husband asked Ruthanna what had happened. Tearfully, she told him that she was too busy to reply to the wedding invitation. As she was the singer she didn’t think she needed to reply.

Heartbroken, she realised that this was a picture of how it will be for many people when Jesus comes again and they find their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They may have been too busy to reply to Jesus’ invitation or thought their activities would gain them entrance to heaven. Unfortunately nothing could be further from the truth.

But can we know we are going to heaven?

First of all we must realise we have nothing to offer God to get us into heaven. We are all sinners according to the Bible (Romans 3: 23) and therefore we have no automatic right to heaven.  ‘The wages of sin is death’ it says but fortunately goes on ‘but the gift of God is eternal life’ Romans 6:23.

Salvation is a gift – a free gift but it has to be asked for and accepted. This is no time for false modesty and feelings of unworthiness. No one is worthy of this gift. Realising that is a great place to start.

Being sinners our eternal destination is hell, separated from God forever (see my blog 'O hell!'). We need a Saviour, someone perfect who can save us by taking our place and dying for us. But no one is perfect, not even one. The most well known verse in the Bible says For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3: 16. God sent Jesus, his son, as the Saviour of the world. 

He was perfect and a man. He lived amongst us and died the most awful, cruel, painful death on the cross even though he had done nothing wrong. Though we deserve to die for our sins, Jesus died in our place, our substitute. Our debt has been paid in full. We have not only been declared innocent of all of our sins but God has given us his righteousness as well. We are in right standing with God. Therefore we can enter heaven to spend eternity with him.

No one else could do this – only Jesus. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’ Acts 4: 12.

God freely offers us forgiveness of our sins and his righteousness but we have to avail ourselves of it. It is not automatic. If we want to be forgiven we must recognise and confess our sins. We have to stop doing things our way and start doing them God’s way. We have to invite Jesus to be Lord of our life.

Everyone is offered this free gift of forgiveness for sins, salvation and eternal life with him in heaven. Neither religious activity (Matthew 7: 21 – 23) nor assuming you are a Christian gains us entry to heaven.  There is nothing we can do, achieve or offer that will earn us a place in heaven. It is a gift of grace For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –  not by works, so that no one can boast Ephesians 2: 8 – 9. God gives it to anyone who asks. Every sin is covered. God knows it all, loves us and forgives us freely and totally - if we ask. That's grace.

Only Jesus can get us there but we have to believe, humbly ask his forgiveness and hand control of our lives to him. Then we will receive the gracious gift of eternal life. When we do that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – no turning away from heaven.

You were made for Jesus and you were made for heaven but the two go together.  You cannot have one without the other. You have to accept this wonderful gift offered to you so one day you can experience the wonder of spending eternity with Jesus in heaven.

‘On the cross, Jesus experienced the Hell we deserve, so that for eternity we can experience the Heaven we don’t deserve.’

If you would like to become a Christian and receive this free gift and know that you are going to heaven, please pray this:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge I am a sinner. Thank you that you love me so much that you came to earth and died on the cross for me.  I ask that you forgive me for all my sins. I am truly sorry and repent of them all. I now ask that you become Lord of my life. I hand control of my life and destiny to you. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen

If you have said this prayer truthfully and sincerely, it is vital you tell someone preferably another Christian what you have done.  You then need to find a church or some other believers to help you come to know Jesus better and grow in your Christian faith.