Where Am I going after life's end?
While we were on phone conversation, my friend mentioned that she is 100% sure of going to heaven. That was so strange declaration for me, and I asked myself, "how come she is so sure of it?" I COULDN'T ANSWER IT MYSELF.
This had been the question before that I hardly can't answer. Of course, no one likes to be forever tortured in hell.. But why couldn't I be assured in going to heaven .. why is it that my friend has assurance of eternal life?.
Doing what is good (like doing good to one's neighbor, being so kind, helpful, prayerful and always going to church, respectful to parents and to the community, doing good to my studies and many others) is what I always thought would earn me mercy from God, and consequently bring me to heaven, and also my family. Some people and relatives in my hometown had seen my good deeds- like helping my parents and doing best at school. All of these were what I always thought can bring me to heaven... But one night, I dreamt that Jesus was here on earth and many people approached Him.., and so I joined the crowd in approaching Him. But I saw Him very far away from me.. He never gave me attention and I wondered a lot. I was so ashamed that he never approached near me. I felt so guilty of many sins which I did. To appease my feelings, I went to church after class, joined their bible studies, prayer meetings, did many good works. Perhaps by doing so, these can bring me nearer to Jesus.
One Sunday afternoon, my brother invited me to join the young people fellowship in Iligan (ACM). While waiting, someone approached me and shared me(one on one) the "Bridge Illustration - The Gospel".
The illustration pointed to my broken relationship with God because of sin, and my facing death as a consequence. Judgment follows after death, and since all sinners go to hell, even lying, I am qualified for that eternal damnation. Though man tried hard to go back to God by good works, religion, sacrifices, he can never do that because God is perfect and could never tolerate any sin. But loved us, He made a way for man to be reconciled to God. John 3:16 stated that "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." Jesus is the only way the truth and the life, and no one can go to the Father, except through Him. All I need to do is to acknowledge my sins, and by faith trust Jesus and invite Him into my heart as my Lord and Savior.
I thank Jesus Christ's crucifixion which was the payment for my sins.,, (3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, - 1 Corinthians) So, there is hope for me and am 100% that my past, present and future sins are already forgiven because Jesus Christ paid me.
I then made the greatest decision in my life- I believe and trusted Christ to be my only Lord and Savior. I am now 100% sure that there is no more condemnation when He comes again because He promised that in ( John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.) . Now good works is an overflow of my relationship with Jesus..
From being a murderer to my enemies, and because I hated my brother before when he disobeyed our parents and sometimes disrespected me , now I can love them from my heart.
From being so dirty in heart and mind. God through Jesus Christ made me clean because of His blood.. He cannot condem me anymore because Jesus blood washed all my sins when He died for me.
By indulging in drunkenness, filthy talks, cheating, lying and many other shameful things before, now He gave me a new heart and works out His loving purposes in my life.
He now disciplines me as His child, to correct me and lead me to His paths.
The reason why I can't answer my friend's question in the past if I am sure of my place in heaven is because l I don't have Jesus Christ in my heart yet! I don't have Jesus Christ in my life yet!
Now, i can boldly say that I am 100% going to heaven after my life's end at any moment!
My hope now is for my all family members,, relatives and friends to come to know the truth and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I want to see them in Heaven also and that I asked the Lord to use me to share His love to them.
Now, God is so busy on my details to prosper his plans for me. God is giving me family of believers to help me and show me how to live a Christian life. Through their lives, God is showing me that I can not live a Christ like character without him. I can now invite others to be in God's family because have now a living relationship with Jesus. (John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.) I considered this as my life verse.
