Heaven (Part 1)Àpẹrẹ

The Way There

Opening Reflection

Every gravestone tells a story. Each name represents a life, a person who laughed, loved, dreamed, and faced challenges. But every gravestone also holds a powerful reminder: one day, our own story will end.

It’s sobering, isn’t it? We go about our days, making plans and chasing goals, yet we often avoid thinking about the reality that life is fleeting. One day, each of us will step out of time and into eternity.

Reinhard Bonnke once said something profound about eternity. He said, ‘We often think of eternity as something far off, something we reach at the end of our life. But eternity is like a path running parallel to us, and at any moment, we can step from time into eternity.’

None of us knows when that moment will come.

This truth forces us to ask the most important question we’ll ever face: 'How do I get to Heaven?’

Jesus answers this question directly in John 14:6: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (NKJV).

Heaven isn’t something we earn through good deeds, nor is it guaranteed because of tradition, family beliefs, or the life we’ve lived. Jesus makes it clear: He is the only way to Heaven.

Personal Story: My Grandparents

When my grandfather passed away in 1998, I felt deep regret. I didn’t know what, or if, he believed, and I hadn’t shared the good news of Jesus with him.

I remember breaking down in church that Sunday morning, overcome with guilt. I cried as I shared my feelings with my pastor. He gently reassured me, saying, ‘You don’t know what decisions your grandfather may have made as a boy. It’s possible he trusted in Jesus, even if he didn’t live a godly life later on.’

That brought me some comfort. And when I think of my grandmother, I find hope. She attended Sunday school, grew up in church, and came from a Christian family. Her life reflected many signs of faith.

But even with this, I know Heaven requires more than tradition or a family legacy; it requires a personal response to Jesus. Though I hope and pray that I’ll see my grandparents in Heaven one day, I won’t truly know until I get there myself.

The Gospel Message: The Way To Heaven

This is the Gospel, the good news, and it’s beautifully simple. The Bible lays it out in the book of Romans, often called the Romans Road to Salvation:

Step one: Romans 3:23 says, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (NIV). Every single one of us has sinned. No matter how good we think we are, we’ve all fallen short of God’s perfect standard.

Step two: Romans 6:23 says, ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus’ (NIV). Sin separates us from God, and the penalty of sin is eternal death. But here’s the good news: God’s gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Step three: Romans 5:8 says, ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (NIV). Salvation isn’t something we can earn by doing good works. Jesus paid the price for us on the cross. All we have to do is receive it by faith.

Step four: Romans 10:9-13 says, ‘If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved’ (NKJV).

It’s that simple: confess Jesus as Lord, believe in your heart that He rose from the dead, and trust Him for your salvation. And the Bible promises, ‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Clarifying Key Words

Maybe some of these words feel unfamiliar. What does the Bible mean by sin? It’s simply the wrong things we’ve done, the ways we’ve hurt others, ourselves, or disobeyed God.

What about salvation? It means being rescued from sin, from separation from God, and from an eternity apart from Him.

And when we talk about the cross, we’re talking about Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. He willingly died to take the punishment for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to. It’s through His death and resurrection that we are offered forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.

Reflect

As I stand here, I’m reminded of this: life is fleeting, and eternity is real.

The way to Heaven is clear. It’s not about tradition or living a good life, it’s about knowing Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

• The choice is yours. Will you accept Him as your Saviour today?

Pray

Lord, I surrender my life to You. Forgive me for my sins and come into my heart. By faith, I receive Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for setting everything right between You and me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer today, I’d love to encourage you on your journey. Heaven is waiting, and Jesus is the way. Don’t wait, eternity starts now.