Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5 New King James Version)

We can make it to Heaven only IF we go through Jesus Christ. Not every one who professes Jesus Christ will go to Heaven. We must possess Christ (be born again according to John 3) and follow Him. Heaven is mentioned over 700 times in the Bible. Hell is mentioned 40 times in the bible. Both places are real. God dwells in Heaven. He has made a way for us to live with Him forever.

• John 14:1-3 New King James Version – 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

• John 14:1-3 New King James Version – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

What is Heaven like?

• Revelation 21:1-4 Living Bible – 1 Then I saw a new earth (with no oceans!) and a new sky, for the present earth and sky had disappeared. ² And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding. ³ I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. ⁴ He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”

Nothing in Heaven dies, and there is no sorrow there or pain. Heaven is eternal. It is not a boring place. There is no good concept on earth that was not originated in Heaven. Beauty, music, art, nature, animals, recreation, education, family, laughter and joy were all created by Jesus.

• John 1:1-3 Living Bible – 1 Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is Himself God. ³ He created everything there is—nothing exists that He didn’t make. 

God wants us to go to Heaven and we should want other people to go to Heaven too!

• Revelation 21:18-21 Living Bible – ^18-20 The city itself was pure, transparent gold like glass! The wall was made of jasper, and was built on twelve layers of foundation stones inlaid with gems: the first layer with jasper; the second with sapphire; the third with chalcedony; the fourth with emerald; the fifth with sardonyx; the sixth layer with sardus; the seventh with chrysolite; the eighth with beryl; the ninth with topaz; the tenth with chrysoprase; the eleventh with jacinth; the twelfth with amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure, transparent gold, like glass.

Every sacrifice we have to make on earth is worth it. Heaven is real. Jesus is real. Salvation is real.

• Romans 10:9-10 Living Bible – ⁹ For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.
• 1 John 1:9 New King James Version – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

“And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Genesis 22:12 New King James Version

Today so many people don’t want to commit to anything or anyone. A lack of commitment leads to instability. We don’t want to be unstable people, but we cannot commit to the Lord unless we know how. So how do we commit to the Lord?

• Psalm 37:5 New King James Version – Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

In order to commit to the Lord…

• We have to trust the Lord.
• We have to obey the Lord.
• We have to deny ourselves.
• We have to avoid distraction.
• We have to be still and not make hasty decisions

We develop commitment to God when our commitment level is tested. God tests us and expects us to grow through the test. But the enemy tempts us to do evil. The Bible tells us…

• James 4:7 New King James Version – “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

God is committed to His Word. God never goes against His Word and He never breaks His promises. God puts His Word above His Name. God wants us to trust His Word and His promises by exercising faith in Him.

God will allow adversity, correction, and discipline to develop our character. We can either get bitter or better. Let’s commit to getting better every day. Adversity can make us stronger, better, wiser and more committed if we respond to adversity God’s way. Have a godly perspective. See the trials in life as opportunities for growth.

We cannot say we really love God unless we are committed to God.

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 New King James Version – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

When we put God first and do things His way, we are truly committed to Him.

• Matthew 6:33 New King James Version – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The Lord wants us to operate on earth according to His principles and make Him the most important priority in our lives.

Some people don’t want to commit to God. The question is why?

1. Committing to God requires change.
2. They are too caught up in the world.
3. They don’t want to give up self (selfishness).
4. They are afraid following God because they don’t want to submit.
5. They don’t want to have limitations on worldly things.

Let’s eliminate all these excuses and commit to God wholeheartedly.

Why does the devil have so many souls? It is because so many people do not know the Voice of the Lord. The enemy watches to see what people like and then he assigns a demon to present what that person likes the most. The enemy sends a cheap, imitation of the blessings of God. And if we don’t learn to discern the Voice of the Lord, we will fall for it. Jesus said…

• John 10:27-30 New King James Version – ²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one.”

But when we receive Jesus into our life and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior, we are supposed to know His Voice and follow Him. There are benefits when Jesus becomes the Shepherd of our souls.

• John 14:6-7 Living Bible – ⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. ⁷ If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him—and have seen him!”

Here are Five Reasons to be Saved:

POINT ONE: God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us live the Christian life. We cannot walk with God without the Holy Spirit (who is also called the Holy Ghost). The Holy Spirit helps us to know the Voice of the Lord. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help those who are born-again

POINT TWO: We become children of God, who is The Creator of everything!

• Romans 8:14 New King James Version – ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

POINT THREE: We will be saved from Hell.

• Luke 16:22-24 New King James Version – ²² Finally the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the righteous dead. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and his soul went into hell. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. ²⁴ “‘Father Abraham,’ he shouted, ‘have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames.’

We must give up the world if we want Christ.

• 1 John 2:15-16 New King James Version – Do Not Love the World – ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

We must have a desire to overcome sin, once we are born-again.

• Revelation 21:7-8 New King James Version – ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”