WHO IS GOING TO GO TO HEAVEN?

  

 

The subject of heaven is quite popular. Discussions on the topic cover various aspects of heaven, generating questions like:

Is there a place called heaven?

The answer to this question is: Yes, there is such a place! The Bible assures us of that when it says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). God tells us Heaven is His dwelling place, His throne (see Isaiah 66:1). It is a real place that is opened to citizenship: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).   Heaven is a Kingdom, and the Ruler is God the Father who co-rules with Jesus, the Son. Unlike earthly kingdoms, where succession is needed because of the death of earthly rulers, there will never be succession to the heavenly throne. God will never die; He’ll be King forever and ever!

Who can go there and when? 

Many people assume heaven is the automatic destination after death, but that is incorrect. There is a second-place called hell; at the end of life here on earth, each person will go to one or the other. Going to heaven is almost like moving to another country, except in the case of heaven, citizenship is required for admission. You can’t just visit or tour heaven and then go back home. Only citizens of heaven can go there. Your citizenship has to be in effect before you’re allowed entrance. No one can set a travel date; one can only go on the day the King beckons them to come, without prior notice. For that reason, citizenship needs to be acquired as soon as one decides they’d like to go there someday. That decision should be followed by fulfilling the requirements as indicated in the guide, the Bible. 

What are the requirements to get into heaven? 

When traveling to a foreign country, you need to obtain and produce when asked, the following documents: a passport, a Visa, immunization record, and how much money you are carrying. For entering heaven, the requirement is proof of citizenship. If you are a citizen, there’ll be no need to carry a piece of paper to that effect; your name will already be recorded there. Whereas with earthly travels, you need to live in a particular country for a number of years before applying to be a citizen, you have to be a citizen of heaven before entering it. The day you are called, Jesus will be at the pearly gate to welcome you because He knows you by name and knows the time of your arrival. What a grand entry that will be!  

How far in advance can you know you are a citizen of heaven?

One can know right at the time they fulfill the citizenship requirements. This will be different for every person. Some know for years in advance, while others could gain this assurance only a few hours or minutes before they’re called. For example, one of the thieves crucified the same day Jesus was barely made it. He fulfilled the requirement just before he would have missed the opportunity. Jesus assured him: “Today, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). So, we know he made it! If you are reading this and don’t already have your citizenship ready, I implore you to not think you’ll do it later, because no one knows when and under what circumstances they’ll be called. That thief almost didn’t make it; do not put this off. Do it today!

What are the requirements for citizenship?

In order to become a citizen of heaven, Jesus has to declare that you are righteous! That righteousness is not because you are not a sinner; rather, it’s because He has paid the penalty for your sins. You and I sin because we are sinners; we are sinners because we inherited a sinful nature from our ancestors, Adam and Eve (see Romans 5:18-19). The punishment for sin is to be separated from God forever after death in hell (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Out of love for us, God, in the person of His Son Jesus, took that punishment on Himself when He died on the cross: “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

This is what you need to do if you’d like to become a citizen of heaven. You need to admit you are a sinner, repent, and ask God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. If you take this step, He will forgive you and come to live in your heart through the Holy Spirit: “When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Your citizenship will be recorded in heaven. You’ll have to read the Bible to know and understand the things God wants you to know and to prepare you for the life in heaven. The Holy Spirit will be your Teacher, Guide, and Comforter through this life. One thing He teaches us is to assemble with other citizens of heaven, also known as the Church, to pray, study His Word, and encourage one another.

Now, do this, and when the King is ready for you, He’ll call you, not a moment too soon or too late. Heaven will then be your home forever! 

What will people be doing in heaven?

In heaven, we will be filled with awe and wonder as we see God face-to-face. There will be an endless time of praise and worship (see Revelation 19:1, 3-7). We will be at the wedding feast of the Lamb and His Bride, the Church (see Rev 19:7). In addition to the many things we’ll be doing, there will be the awards ceremony (see Ephesians 6:8), where we get rewarded for whatever work we have done on earth for the Lord.

Would you like to go to heaven? Then hurry, gain your citizenship today; don’t put it off. Like they say, “There’s no better time than today!”

All quotes are from the New Living Translation.