I’ve asked thousands of people if they expect to go to Heaven. Some of them have said, “Yes.” My next question is often, “Why do you believe you will go to Heaven? Many times, their answers have been: “Because I try to keep the Ten Commandments.” Or, “I try to live a good life.” Or, “I attend church and try to treat everyone fairly.”

There is a big problem with those answers. God has clearly taught us that no one will ever get to Heaven because they are good enough – because no person is good enough to receive the incredible gift of eternal life.

So few people understand what it is that God requires of us, that we do indeed have much work to do. Jesus’ last command to His disciples was: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15).

Despite all the sermons that are heard, and all the books that are read, too few people understand the simple truth of John 3:16: 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.

God has already decreed that people are incapable of keeping His law, and therefore, completely unsuited to live in Heaven. So, God made a plan that solved the problem. He offers to give us the pure righteousness of Christ as a free gift. And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, …but that which is by faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9).

But we must first confess our own unworthiness – our sin nature – and then fully trust in Christ to forgive us and make us clean in His eyes (see I John 1:9).

If you have not been believing that Jesus is your Savior, there is something very important for you to do. Believe that He now gives you the free gift of eternal life.

You are a treasured possession of God’s, and He wants to bless you and help you to convince others that His plan is the only possible path to Heaven. You and I can be His messengers. He will give us all the ability that we need in order to share the Good News with others.

Lack of enthusiasm can be a stumbling block. I pray that this article will be God’s way of supplying you with that spark of zeal that will keep you busy for the rest of your life.

Ask your family, friends, and others this simple question, “Are you going to Heaven?” Don’t make the mistake of assuming that they already know the correct answer. If they do know the answer, your question may inspire their confidence. If they don’t know the correct answer, you will have the great joy of telling them how to have faith that Jesus is their Savior. (Reprint from August 1996)