How to get to Heaven

Would you really like to know how to get to heaven?

A few years ago railroads and airlines printed what were called “time tables.” They all laid claim to the better route to your destination. They went so far as to print their line in big boxcar type, while their competitor’s line was put in the smallest type.

The different denominations and churches all have their peculiar route to heaven. The various sects and isms claim to have a monopoly on the only way to a blessed eternity. Which way shall we go? Certainly all of us want to go to heaven. Most assuredly we want to take the proper route. Which is it?

Instead of listening to this babel of voices all about us, why not listen to God? Here is what He says in the Bible. This is the inside story on God’s way to heaven. It is the gospel according to the Author:

God tells the truth about mankind:

• “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
• “For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and does not sin.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
• “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
• “…For there is no man that sins not….” (1 Kings 8:46)
• “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

God says that He must punish sin:

• “Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine: the soul that sins, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)
•  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

God tells the inside story about His remedy for sin:

• “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
• “God commends [demonstrates] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
•  “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.” (l Peter 2:24)
• “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
•  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
• “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9)

God wants to save you and will save you if you will follow His instructions:

• “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
• “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
• “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)
•  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
• “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.” (John 20:30, 31)

God definitely declares that there is only one way to be saved:

• “Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)
• “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
• “Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25, 26)
• “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (l Timothy 2:5)

Christ extends to you a personal invitation:

• “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and he that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)
• Now it is up to you. You have the inside story. What are you going to do about it?

—J. Vernon McGee