Assurance of Eternal Life

Because Heaven is so Real

Can we be sure of heaven? Or can we do no more than our  best and wait for the day of judgement before we would know – just hope that it was good enough? Or is it easier to ignore the subject and convince ourselves that it simply doesn’t exist? Just a story, a flight of human imagination. But the fact is that the idea of death, of heaven and even hell can leave us with uncertainty and even make us miserable when we think about it. Maybe we should just avoid thinking about it all together. But it is a very important question. And what is certain, an absolute reality, is that we will all face death – there is no escape.

 

Obviously if there is a God and a heaven (and a hell), it would only be reasonable to expect that this God Creator would have provided an answer and not have left His creation, humankind, in a state of uncertainty. That would be cruel to say the least.  So, can we be sure?

 

In His Word, the Bible, God states very clearly and repeatedly that there is a way by which men can be sure of heaven while still on earth:

 

·  ‘I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who believes in Me (trusts Me, relies on Me, Jesus) has eternal life’. John 6:47

 

·  ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (give yourself up to Him,  take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself to Him) and you will be saved’ Acts 16:31

 

·  ‘I write these things to you who believe in the Name of  the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.’ I John 5:13

 

Can we trust God that He will not deceive us – that His Word is true; “As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”- Psalm 18:30

 

Why must I believe in Christ to be sure of heaven? Men in their sin can never enter heaven. Since all men are sinners, according to the Bible  and as all men know it in their hearts,  ‘There is not a righteous man on earth who does what  is right and never sins.’ Ecclesiastes 7:20,  all are thereby excluded from heaven.

 

But God is a God of love, One Who is not willing that anyone should perish.  So He sent His sinless Son into the world to die for sinners - ‘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. The Saviour shed His blood so that sin might be washed away and  sinners made fit for heaven. In Hebrews 7:27 we read that Jesus was sacrificed for our sins once for all. He not only died but rose again and ascended to heaven,  ‘the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead ‘ Acts 17:3. He is there today preparing a place for us,  ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?’ John 14: 1-2. For all who receive Him by faith (by trusting God), God now gives eternal life, to all those who confesses their sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

 

Therefore, the test as to whether you can be sure of heaven is this: have you ever repented your sin and asked Christ to save you? If you have, then the Word of God says that you can be certain  of everlasting life living in this new relationship with Him, trusting,  obeying, and loving God in Jesus Christ.

 

On the other hand, if you have never turned to Christ for salvation you can be equally sure that you are not bound for heaven as He tells us that 'without holiness no one will see the Lord.' Hebrews 12:14

 

If there is any doubt in your mind, why not turn from your sin, trust in Christ, and believe God’s Word that all who come to Christ in this way are safe forever?

 

To doubt God in this important matter is both unreasonable and inexcusable.  He loves you and wants you to have certainty.