Heaven (Part 1)Àpẹrẹ

The Good News

,;,You;;Yesterday, I shared the most important invitation you’ll ever receive: the chance to place your trust in Jesus and receive Him as your Saviour.

If you prayed that prayer, you’ve taken the first step into a life-changing journey.

If you’re still thinking it through, that’s okay too.

The Good News is that God’s love and the promise of Heaven are for everyone who chooses to respond.

Today, I want to unpack what this Good News means. It’s not just about what happens after we die, it’s about how we live now, knowing Heaven is real and our eternity is secure.

Repentance: Turning To God

The Good News begins with repentance. That’s a word we don’t always use, but it’s simple, it means turning away from sin and turning toward God.

Jesus said in Luke 13:3, 'Unless you repent, you too will all perish' (NIV).

When I was 15, I thought I had life figured out. I went to church on Sunday nights, but not to listen. I was there to mess around with friends. But one night, everything changed. The speaker talked about Jesus giving His life for me, and for the first time, I realised the weight of what He’d done. He took my place so I could be forgiven.

That night, I turned to God in repentance. I admitted I’d been heading in the wrong direction, and I asked Him to change my life. Repentance isn’t about guilt; it’s about freedom. It’s the first step on the path to Heaven.

The Cross: The Price Paid

Repentance opens the door, but the Good News is that Jesus has already paid the price for our sin.

1 Peter 2:24 says, '"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed"' (NIV).

Sin separates us from God as it creates a gap we can’t cross on our own. But Jesus bridged that gap by taking the punishment we deserved. His sacrifice on the cross makes it possible for us to be forgiven and have a relationship with God.

The cross reminds us of God’s incredible love. Heaven isn’t something we earn, but it’s a gift made possible because Jesus gave everything for us.

Faith In Action

The next step is faith. Faith isn’t just about believing in Jesus, it’s about trusting Him with your whole life. Romans 10:9 says, 'If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved' (NIV).

When I gave my life to Jesus, I realised faith wasn’t just a decision I made once, it was something I had to live out daily.

One passage that helped me was John 15, where Jesus says God is like a gardener who prunes us so we can grow. I’d grown some branches in my life that needed trimming –habits, attitudes, and choices that didn’t honour God. That pruning wasn’t easy, but it helped me grow in my faith and prepare for the future He had for me.

Faith is active. It’s about walking with Jesus every day, letting Him shape your heart, and living with Heaven in mind.

Grace: The Gift Of Salvation

Here’s the most incredible truth of the gospel: you don’t have to earn salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast' (NIV).

Because of grace, God meets you where you are. You don’t have to fix yourself or prove you’re good enough. You just have to come to Him.

Salvation is a gift not something we achieve or can study for, but something we receive because of what Jesus has already done.

The Good News is that God’s love isn’t based on what you do, it’s based on what Jesus did for you.

Heaven: Our Ultimate Home

So where does this path lead? It leads to Heaven. Heaven is the place God has prepared for us: a place of eternal joy, peace, and life in His presence.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, 'Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation' (NIVUK).

We don’t know the moment we’ll step from time into eternity. That’s why today matters so much. Heaven is a promise for those who follow Jesus, and that promise gives us hope as we live each day here on Earth.

Reflect

An Invitation To Respond

If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, take these next steps:

• Start talking to God in prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with Him.
• Open the Bible and begin reading. The book of John is a beautiful place to start.
• Find a church or Christian community to walk alongside you.

And if you’re still considering this decision, why wait?

The Good News is for you. Heaven is real, and Jesus has already made the way.

Pray

Lord, I surrender my life to You. I turn away from my sin and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for me and rose again, and by faith, I accept the gift of eternal life. Thank You for loving me and making a way for me to be with You in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, let a Christian friend or family member know.

They would love to celebrate with you and help you take your next steps.

The Good News is this: Jesus has already made the way to Heaven, and He’s inviting you to follow Him. Let’s walk this journey together.