Where Are You Going?

From: Echoes of Grace: 1982

• 2 min. read • grade level: 4

While eating breakfast in the restaurant I looked around and watched the people. They came in— picked out a place to sit down—made themselves comfortable—looked up hopefully to attract a waitress—read the menu—gave their order—waited—sipped their water—talked laughed—ate their food— relaxed briefly—paid their bill and went out.

Who were they? Where did they come from? Where did they go? I didn't know. It all happened so quickly. No one stayed very long; everyone went somewhere.

I began to think seriously: Life is like that! We don't stay here very long. Soon we have to go. But where? That's the big question!

The Bible says there are just two final destinations, heaven or hell, and we all ought to be concerned about which way we're headed.

After these thoughts had been in my mind for a while, I bowed my head, closed my eyes briefly, and sent a prayer of thanks up to God for giving me the certainty of my own final destination. I knew for sure that I was on my way to heaven because Jesus had saved me from hell some years ago. In 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) He said: "I am the way." He promised to take me to His Father's house because I had put my trust in Him. How wonderful!

Are you going with me? You can, if you want to.

Jesus died for us both. His precious blood shed on Calvary's cross is all the payment that God will ever need to wash our sins away. Believing on Jesus brings immediate forgiveness to us. God has said: "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 10:17¹⁷And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17). Also He has said: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).

Here's how I found the way. It was through this wonderful verse in Romans 10:9⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9): "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

It's great to know for sure where you're going!

Salvation—How?

The negative side:

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:9⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9).

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done." Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5).

"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6⁶But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6).

"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:8⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8).

The positive side: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:36³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).

"There is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12¹²Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).