"If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into My Heaven,' what would you say?"

Again, most people if they have an answer at all, would say, " I've tried to live the best life I am able," or they might say," I've believed in God and gone to church, or have done many good, kind and helpful things."

But, do you know that all these answers, even an answer that one just doesn't know what they would say - indicates we have not rightly understand or responded to life's most important questions. If you're like the multitudes I'm talking about, then I've got Good News, for you!

Please take a moment to either read the following, or download this and read it at your leisure. For if you do, you will find the right and perfect answers to both questions, which will undoubtedly and absolutely bring you into a perfect relationship with God Himself!

God has given us a book called the Bible. It is His instruction manual for all life He has created. It tells us how to live rightly before God. It tells us how to avoid things of life that are harmful, destructive, painful and wrong. But in addition, it reveals to all who read it and trust it - how to receive God's FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. Listen to God's Word which says,
 

Contrary to popular opinion and thought, God's Word clearly declares that Heaven is not something we work for or earn. God says Heaven or Eternal Life can only be obtained as a free gift! The Bible says,

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Two things are said and promised. First, Eternal Life, that is the power and right to live forever in God's presence and blessing, can only be obtained as a free gift, it can never be earned or deserved. Second, it tells us that every human being can in this life "know for sure," they either have it or they don't.

This can be seen more clearly when we understand what the Bible says about us. Scripture continues to tell us,
 

The Bad News about all people is we must face the fact that the human race now exists in a defective and damaged state. The Bible describes this condition as sinful, and disobedient. Of course, everyone knows this by virtue of our world's existence. Our wars, conflicts, fightings, crime, and abuse suffered since our creation, testify that people cannot live in a continued state of peace, tranquility, love and happiness.

This is because we willfully have chosen to live outside of God's directives and will, for our existence. The Bible calls this disobedience, sin. We read in,

Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Isaiah 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way..."

No matter how much good we can do, or gather to our credit, we still have disobedience in our lives that God says will be accounted for. Now admittedly, some of us lead quite good lives, better than others. But God does not measure on a sliding scale. The Bible says God measures the whole of our lives and judges us by all of it. Listen to God's assessment,

James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
Romans 3:10-11 "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; {11} there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."

No matter how much you strive to do good, no matter how much good you have done, we have also been disobedient to God's standard of living worthy of entering Heaven and receiving Eternal Life. In fact, the Bible tells us what that standard is. Jesus Christ said in,

Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Imagine that! Only that which is perfect, flawless and exactly like God Himself can live and exist in His eternal presence. This of course, eliminates all of us, for all have sinned and come short of this perfection. Now the problem of man trying to save himself comes into sharper focus when we understand what the Bible says about God.
 

The Good News in the Bible is the God who created us reveals Himself to be a loving God who deeply is concerned about you and me. The greatest verse and proof of this is found in,

John 3:16-17 "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. {17} For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

Yes, the love of God is so great, that it reveals God devised a plan to save us from the penalty of our sins that await all of us on Judgement Day. This plan involves the justice and holiness of God.

The Bible reveals God must punish sin! God says by sinning, large or small, we have earned His penalty of the universe, which is death. This means we deserve to die and be separated from God forever. This is bad news indeed, but hold on!

God is love and doesn't want to punish us, so God devised a plan to save all men.
 

As amazing as it seems, God tells us He Himself came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. His mission was to be a perfect man without sin, so as to qualify Himself, as a man, to be our substitute and die for our sins. This act of God's love and substitutionary payment for our sins is a recorded fact of history.

On a cross almost 2000 years ago, a legal transaction took place where God punished the infinite God/Man Jesus Christ for the sins of all other men. The plain truth of the matter is Christ died for you and for me! His death was offered up as a perfect, full and final sacrifice for the wages of sin of all men. What's most wonderful about this is God showed us He accepted Christ's death on behalf of all sinners!

We know that three days after Jesus died on the cross, God raised Him again to life eternal. This resurrection is "proof" God accepted His death as a substitute for you and me. This is the Good News of the Bible God wants you to know. However, there is something more you must know and understand.
 

Although millions of people have tried to earn Heaven or Eternal Life, God says that Christ's death for our sins can be placed to our account, only by faith. Listen to the Word of God,

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast."

There is no good work, religious rite, sacrament or penance we can perform that will bring us to Heaven or Eternal Life. God declares only faith in Christ can save us.

But what is faith? Today the best word for faith is simply "trust." We must trust God's Word and message is true, and we must trust in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation and eternal life.

Any other way to Heaven will find the door barred for eternity. The Bible unconditionally says,

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

This means that God's gift of forgiveness of all our sins, His gift of Eternal Life and Heaven itself, will only be given to those who believe God and His Word and place their lives under the loving control of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does this make sense to you? Would you like to receive Eternal Life? If God is speaking to your heart about this, there is only one right and immediate response.
 

Is there anything keeping you from trusting Christ right now? There can be nothing more important than the state of your eternal existence. Why not pray this prayer? Remember it is not a prayer that saves you. It is trusting Jesus Christ that saves you. Prayer is simply how you tell God how you feel and what you want.
 

"Dear God, I realize I am a sinner. I know my sin deserves to be punished. I now believe Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the grave. I place my trust in Christ alone as my Savior and grant Him the right to lead my life. Thank you for dying for me, and granting to me through faith alone, the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen."

If you prayed this prayer with all sincerity, then know what Jesus says to all who come to Him by faith:

John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

Notice again what God says. Those who hear His Word, believe what God says and trust Christ as their Savior - are immediately granted Eternal Life. Also, because we have this life, we shall not come into judgment. So we see, Eternal Life is not based on any feeling we might have, but on the fact and promise of God Himself.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

If you have prayed this prayer and mean it, then you have become a Christian regardless of your past life, age or position. As a Christian, having new life in Christ, God wants to grow you in His Word and faith. First, why not begin your new life by regularly reading and studying the Word of God. Start by reading the New Testament Book of Philippians. As you read it, expect God to speak to you from it.

Secondly, we must regularly pray to God. He is now your Father in Heaven and your friend. Talk to Him all about your needs, desires, troubles and cares. Remember He cares for you, and has promised He will never leave you.

Third, as a believer you need the fellowship and blessing of worshipping with others. Visit a Bible believing Church of your choice and worship with God's people regularly.

Lastly, be sure to tell others what has happened to you. You can begin by contacting us, as we would like to send you helpful, and free literature to enable you to grow in your faith.

A special thanks to Dennis L. Finnan, Pastor of St. Charles Bible Church and speaker on