How to Get to Heaven

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
BY JAMES WHARTON.
THIS is a most important matter. To every mansion there is a door and to every city there is a way. Jesus said, “I am the door, by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved” (John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)). He also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
Perhaps like Thomas you ask, “How can we know the way?” To this question the Lord answers, “I am the way.” He said, while talking to the crowds, “Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:33And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)). Conversion is essential, the new birth is imperative, without which we cannot expect to be where Christ is.
A soldier once said when explaining what conversion was, that it was right about face. Up to the time of his conversion he was going with his face towards destruction, but trusting Christ for salvation he then turned right round with his back upon destruction and his face towards heaven. “To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)). “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Therefore to believe on Jesus, the sinners’ substitute, is the mighty lever which God uses in taking me from a place of condemnation and death and putting me into a place of life. Taking me from the kingdom and power of Satan and placing me in the kingdom of His dear Son, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
I yield to Christ, I give up myself to Him, I stake my soul on His atoning work, I trust Him implicitly as a child would do a parent. I let go myself and take Him, and the moment this is done I am one of the members of the family of God, His child, and on my way to heaven, and as sure as He is there I shall be there also. This is conversion, and a new life will be the result, for old things will necessarily pass away and all things become new (2 Cor. 6).
“‘Tis all sunshine there, Lord,
No sighing nor care, Lord,
But glory so fair, at Thy coming again.”
From The Homeland.