Do you know you have to possess citizenship in the greatest of countries before you will be allowed to enter it for the first time? Citizenship in this country is neither acquired by natural birth, nor by the naturalization process. And crossing over its borders is strictly forbidden by all aliens or non-citizens. This might sound harsh and inflexible at first, but further consideration shows that this country has the kindest and most generous immigration policy — so largehearted indeed that our narrow minds are reluctant to believe it.
The country is heaven. Many countries on earth have come and gone, but the glories of heaven will last forever. Citizenship in heaven is granted to those who in this life are “born again” through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are those who have realized that they were acting “alien” or contrary to a God of goodness and love, and then in sorrow of heart for their sins have come to Christ for forgiveness. He forgives completely all who come to Him, and He also puts a new life in them. This new life makes them born again, or born anew, and without this life no person can enter into heaven. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)).
When Christ died on the cross, He opened the door of salvation for sinners. One drop of His precious blood is sufficient to wash away every stain of sin in a person’s life when they trust Him. Your sins, regardless of how awful they might be, need not exclude you from heaven. The blood of Jesus Christ can wash them away so that not one stain remains. Were your sins a thousand times worse, the blood of Christ has ample power to wash them away and make you fit for heaven.
All may come by faith and receive His marvelous salvation as a free gift: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)). They can do this because God has a kind and generous immigration policy that allows them to leave the land of sin and shame and, instead, become citizens of heaven. The salvation God offers is received through faith in Christ.
What will exclude a sinner from heaven? Refusing the offer of God’s grace in this life. There will be nothing left for them but the fearful sufferings of hell. The borders of hell are not porous; an impassable gulf surrounds it, and once in its dreadful confines, a soul must remain forever. The Lord Jesus said, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)). Those who remain alienated from God in this life will remain alienated from Him for all eternity in the place “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:4444Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:44)).
“The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). Will you come to the Saviour by faith so that you might have the new birth, forgiveness, citizenship in heaven and a future home in that most happy of places?