Is Heaven your home?

Nowadays it is rare for someone to be 100% sure of anything. People often wonder what tomorrow may bring. The economy for one is a cycle of uphill and downhill. We turn to books, commentaries, people, electronic references, science for answer. But what may be a logical explanation now wouldn't stand the test of time.

Doubts, lack of knowledge, pride, or inability and/or being hard headed to embrace new things creep in and we become more confuse or more lost. We thought we are in the right path but we don't realize that due to our lack of knowledge and right spiritual guidance, we are actually threading the wrong route. We are more comfortable to go through life on things that are obscure and blurry so we don't have to worry about opening a can of worms.

So, what is it really? Whatever work and effort we do now becomes obsolete in just a short period of time. But inspite of all these insecurities and doubts there is one thing that I can totally, 100% bank on. The gift of eternal life.

Long ago, I have challenged myself by asking this simple questions: After everything has been said and done, what now? Why am I here? What is my purpose? It was then that I was trying to find meaning in my life. I felt so empty inside. And you know what? I found the answer to my simple and yet very important question. I found it in the Word of God, the Bible.

When man was created by God (Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.), He has a purpose. He didn't created man just because He can but it is for a reason. Man has a duty (Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.) But God gave man the freedom to choose in which such privilege was not given to his angels.

What do I mean by eternal life? I believe our life here on earth is temporary. Our life's journey doesn't stop to the here and now. I am merely passing through. Have you ever asked yourself this question: when I die, is heaven my home? One can know for sure where you end up after our journey ends in this world. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. The Bible, the Living Word of God.

I post you this question: Do you know for sure if Heaven is your home? If not, I can show you how. It is not difficult. It is not complicated. All one has to have is an open and willing heart to receive the gospel. You can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

First, realize God loves you. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The Bible teaches that regardless of your background, age, race, or any other factor, God loves you and desires a genuine, personal relationship with you.

Second, realize everyone is a sinner. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." No one is perfect. We have all broken God's commandments. This is called sin, and it separates us from God.

Third, realize sin has a price that must be paid. Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The "wage" or payment for our sin is death, which according to the Bible is eternal separation from God in a place called Hell.

Fourth, realize Jesus Christ died to pay the price for your sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God provided a solution through Jesus Christ. Religion, good life or baptism doesn't save us from our sinful life. If we choose to accept Christ, we do not have to pay the price of death and Hell for our sins because Jesus paid for our sins when He died on the Cross and rose again three days later.

Finally, pray, confess that you are a sinner, and ask Jesus Christ to be your Saviour, and claim His promise of eternal life. In Romans 10:13 the Bible says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." That is a promise directly from God that if you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive your sins, and accept Him as your Saviour; He promises to save you and give you the free gift of eternal life. Jesus Christ's sacrificial death as payment for our sins.

"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner who deserves to go to Hell. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and rose three days later. As best as I know how, I want to accept Jesus as my personal Saviour to save me from my sins. I know because I've done so, I'll be going to Heaven when I die. In Jesus' name, Amen."

There is no better time than now to make the most important decision in your life that lasts a lifetime. Now is the time. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Is there any reason why you shouldn't accept this free gift of eternal life? Why wait, my friend?

Salvation Testimony

Psalm 137:15 “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”

I grew up in a small town back in the Philippines. Life is simple. My father back then was a Lieutenant Colonel practicing law and my mother an excellent homemaker. It is easy to draw the conclusion that I and my brothers and sisters were brought up the military way.

My family consists of two brothers and five sisters. I was the second to the youngest. I can distinctly remember helping my mother do gardening stuff when my brothers and sisters are away. I would fetch water from the river, which is at the back of our house, and carry the pail of water back to our front yard. I’ve done that all through my high school years.

I went to a Catholic school all throughout my school years. I grew up in a Catholic home. When as a family we attend the Mass, we would occupy the whole bench in a pew. But even then, I have difficulties memorizing all these “prayers” that the nuns and priests taught us. I knew deep down I have begun questioning their creed.

Mark 16:15 “ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

But it was in the summer before I turned 12 that my brother had given me the gospel of salvation. He conducts Bible study at our house (my father was rarely at home then) and I would be there listening to them. I even remembered flipping through the pages of the gospel tract that has an illustration in it. Then I remember answering this Bible lessons that were being sent through mail and in the process learning about the Bible. After a few years I have finished the lessons. Then I did nothing more to grow spiritually.

Galatians 1:14 “And profited in the Jew’s religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

Then I graduated college, passed the board exams of nursing and then joined a volunteer program. I joined the volunteerism program in the hope that I would find meaning in my life. For a while I thought I have found it. By giving of myself and helping the community through the educational process, I taught high school students. The community where I served is very religious in following every detail of their customs and tradition. I would hear the church bell clanging in the early mornings and people in a procession with prayers being chanted. Students are obligated to attend the morning Mass everyday. Then my year of service ended.

Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

I was back in the city. Still there was emptiness inside. I wallowed up in the world of flesh hoping to find the peace and the settling down of this void. Every night I stayed out late partying with friends. I learned to tolerate bottles after bottles and glass after glass of liquor. I downed them along with the hope that it will attain what I was looking for. I met people from different walks of life. I lived a compromised moral life. Everything of the darkness I have tried but nothing filled up that void within me. Morning after morning I woke up feeling the same as yesterday. A meaningless, wasted life it was. I was lost.

Romans 5: 8,10 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

It is only when I decided to go back and renew my relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Now, I know for sure that I don't have to wander anymore. I have found the answer. And that answer is in God's Son, Jesus Christ. I have accepted Him as my personal Savior for without Him I am nothing. All my righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight. Now, I have stopped my endless wandering and found my answers in the eternal God. Now, that void is overflowing with His love and renewed mercies.