For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

 Have you answered the question, “are you going to Heaven when you die”?  Over the years I’ve witnessed to people and their responses are different when I ask them why they believe they are going to Heaven. Here are a few: I try to live a good life, I go to church on a regular basis, I never have done anyone wrong, and I believe God loves me so I’m going to Heaven. All of these answers sound good, but the factor that stands out in their responses is ”self”. These people truly believe they are going to Heaven by the way they live their life and what they believe. But is their answer correct?

 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

 Ephesians 2:8-9 answers the question regarding one’s ability to work their way into Heaven. It’s NOT their works, but faith. Faith in whom? Self, the preacher, the church? No, faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son (the gift), given to you as a sacrifice for your sins. God is holy, pure, righteous and without sin. He is so pure, He can’t even look upon you in your sinful nature. God gave us His Son to die on a Roman cross and brought back to life after 3 days, defeating sin’s “death” (eternal separation from God). No matter how well you live right in this life, nothing you do can earn you a place in Heaven, only through faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

 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

 As a human, you have the opportunity to come clean from your sinful life by believing what Jesus Christ did on your behalf, having faith in Him to live out your days honoring God and sharing the good news of the newfound freedom to know your place is in Heaven when you die. Having faith in the works of Jesus Christ, is all you’ll need for confidence in knowing your departure from earth will be in the presence of God!