WHERE WILL YOU BE SPENDING 'FOREVER?'

Are you trying to experience everything you can to make sure you don’t miss out on anything before you die? 

If so, you are like millions of others who shop, work, go to the movies, vacation, dine out, dance and drive extreme machines while overlooking a very important part of their lives - ETERNITY!  You may be spending a lot of time focusing on earthly, material matters that, when looked at from the eternal perspective, are actually very unimportant.

There is overwhelming evidence that the amount of time that we spend here on Earth is only a fraction of our total existence.  If that's the case, we need to focus our attention on what comes next instead of the short time we will be here and re-examine what we value to make sure that we are spending our time doing what really matters.

And even though our time here is really very short, it is the most important time in our lives.  Let's find out why.

HOW LONG WILL YOU LIVE?
“What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”  This is how James 4:14 describes our time on earth.  Our life is so short that it is compared to a mist!  A spray out of a hair spray bottle.  Squirt; there we are.  Poof; we are gone! 

Why is our time on Earth so short?  And if it is that short, is that all there is?  Why are we even born if we exist for just a ‘poof’ of time?  It makes me think that this time on Earth is not all that there is.   Maybe, during the short time we are here, there is just enough time for us to figure out what is going on and make a very important decision.

OUR ETERNITY HAS ALREADY BEGUN
Our eternity begins at birth.  The moment we were conceived we began our eternal lives.  According to the Bible, we have a beginning, but we do not have an end.  Our end on this Earth is only the beginning of where we will live forever.  We are eternal beings! 

There are two phases to all of our lives.  The first phase is lived on planet Earth anywhere from 0-100+ earthly years.  How many years have you spent on this earth already?  10?  20? 40?  60?  80?  More?  However long it is, this is how long you have already lived in the first phase.

The second phase starts when we die.  The moment that our heart stops beating in this physical body  – when we leave this body and go on to our forever place.  This phase will last forever.

‘FOREVER’ IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND
It’s hard for us to understand the concept of ‘eternity’ or ‘forever.’  I remember back in math class when we learned about infinite numbers.  I learned that numbers went on forever in both the positive and negative direction.  How many remember learning this concept in school?  Well, I had a hard enough time trying to understand that numbers could go on forever in a positive direction, but I could never understand how they could go on forever in the negative direction.  How could things go on forever in a negative direction?

‘Infinity,’ ‘eternity’ and ‘forever’ are hard concepts for us to understand because we are in a different frame of mind here on Earth.  We only understand a small amount of all there really is to know.  Our full potential is not available to us right now.

“He (God) has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:10 

But, once we have entered the next phase of our lives, our understanding will open up to a new dimension.  A new way of thinking will open up to us that is not possible here on Earth.  The Bible addresses this fact in 1 Corinthians 13:12:

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

But for now, it is difficult for us to comprehend the concept of unending, forever, eternity.

BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS
We use our incomplete earthly understanding to measure everything, including time and space.  Our measurements consist of a beginning and an ending of some sort.  Think of it – everything that we know has a beginning and an end.  A box, a pencil, a car, a house, and the measurements of a room size – they all have a beginning and an end.  Our jobs, marriages, vacations, life itself – are all marked by beginnings and endings.

WE HAVE A BEGINNING, BUT WE HAVE NO END
Obviously we human beings are different from boxes, pencils and houses, but like these items, we have a beginning.  Unlike them, we have NO END.  Our souls, our spirits, are eternal.  They never end.  The unseen, spiritual realm is on a different timetable, and our spirit is a part of this spiritual realm.  Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it is not real!

Since our eternal destination is such a permanent place, let’s try to get a better understanding of what ‘forever’ means.

Á     For children, the school day lasts ‘forever.’

Á     Teenagers think it takes ‘forever’ until they can get their driver’s license.

Á     It takes ‘forever’ to graduate from school.

Á     The time between summer vacations is ‘forever.’

Á     The time it takes to be able to move out of your parent’s house and be on your own is ‘forever.’

Á     Once a wedding date is picked, it seems like ‘forever’ until it arrives.

Á     When a woman is pregnant, the last month seems like it lasts ‘forever.’  

Á     Some married people feel like they have been married ‘forever.’

In this instant, drive-through society what seems like ‘forever’ applies to even more areas.  We use the term lightly.

• We have to wait in line at the store ‘forever.’

• When we are put on ‘hold’ on the telephone we feel like we have to wait ‘forever.’

• We used to wait ‘forever’ for airplanes to arrive and take off.  We are temporarily a bit more patient with all the heightened security events that have been put in place.  How long will our patience last?

THE ETERNAL ‘FOREVER’
How does the real, eternal FOREVER compare with the ‘forevers’ that we just listed?  Obviously the eternal ‘forever’ is really FOREVER.  It has NO ENDING.  None.  It will go on and on and on and on – for so long that we can’t even imagine it.  Anything we thought took ‘forever’ while we are here on Earth does not compare.  Forever.  No end.  No chance to change things.  Wherever we end up - that is where we will be FOREVER!

WHERE WILL WE SPEND ETERNITY?
While there are a lot of things to learn the truth about and discover, the most important truth that we have to learn is what happens after our brief time on this Earth.

We have to make sure that we know exactly where we will go and not leave this eternal matter to chance, speculation, rumors, or misinformation.  We have to learn how we can prepare ourselves and make sure we are standing in the right line when the gates to our eternity open.

TRUTH ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL IS HIDDEN
Even though people aren’t sure about what happens they die, not many of them actually take the steps necessary to find out what they need to know.  Everyone wants to end up in heaven, or something like it, but they don’t know what they have to do to make sure that they get there.

They don’t know that they need to make a decision, or
they think they don’t have the power to make the decision, or
they think that someone else will make it for them, or
they believe the people who tell them that it doesn’t exist, or
that they will come back reincarnated as something else, or
that they will just go to sleep and never know anything after that
so they don’t have to worry about it.

How about you?  Do you know what you need to do to make sure you get to heaven?  There seem to be a lot of alternatives, don’t there? 

We all have to take our blinders off and find out what actually happens when we die.  We need to find out what really matters and make any adjustments if necessary.  To find the answer, let’s turn to a book that specializes in this topic – The Bible!  It’s been around a long time and deals with all of this kind of stuff that we all try to avoid!

TWO PLACES DESIGNED FOR ETERNAL LIVING
When we read through the Bible, we find that our life as we know it now is only temporary.  Once we leave here, once we ‘die,’ we go to one of the two places designed for eternal living.  Like a move – we go from here to there.  Either we will go to a place called Heaven or a place called Hell.  This is not a fairy tale.  This is not a story.  This is a fact found in the Bible.

“…man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27

Our eternity will be spent either in Heaven or Hell.  When we look further, we find out that the time that we are alive on this Earth, right now, is the only time we have to determine the Heaven or Hell part.  It is crucial for all of us to make our preparations for eternity now since there is no way out once we leave this phase.  We cannot be ignorant about this or leave this up to chance.

WE HAVE A CHOICE IN THE MATTER
The amazing thing about this is that we actually have a choice in this matter!  Yes, we can choose where we want to spend eternity.  Imagine!  Being able to CHOOSE between Heaven and Hell!  The choice is made by each one of us.  It is not made by anyone else or left up to chance.

DEFAULT IS SET AT ‘HELL’
Of course, there is a default setting if we don’t make our choice.  Just like on our computers, if we don’t change a particular setting, it goes to the default setting.  The bad new is that the default setting for our eternal existence is set at ‘Hell.’  If we don’t do anything to change that setting, that is where we’ll go.

LET’S COMPARE LIFE IN HEAVEN AND LIFE IN HELL
Since we have the choice of living FOREVER in Heaven or FOREVER in Hell, let’s compare what it will be like in each of the two places so we can make a wise decision.

 
YOUR FATE IS LOCKED IN
It seems that our choice would be clear.  Make no mistake: we must make that decision.  And we must make it while we are still alive.  Our forever, our fate, is determined, sealed, locked in, based on the decision we make, during what young people think of as ‘forever,’ and old people think of as too short a time, here on this Earth.

IS THIS FAIR?  IS THIS CRUEL?
It sounds so cruel, but in reality we are given many opportunities to make our choice.  We just don’t pay attention to this part of our lives the way we should many times.  When we read through the Bible, we learn that God wants everyone to go to heaven and gives everyone the opportunity to learn the truth about eternity.  He wants everyone to know that they can choose between Heaven and Hell, and that their decision will impact their eternity forever.  He wrote a whole book – the Bible – to tell us all about this.  His desire is for us all to accept His free gift of eternal life.

 “(The Lord) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9

The Bible refers to our time on this Earth as a race. Some people would call it a ‘rat race!’  But the Bible refers to this first phase of our lives as a race, a course.   A marathon.  A competition that we should run with our minds constantly focused on the goal, which is our eternal life.  We have a mission to fulfill and are in a sense competing with other forces on our way to the finish line.

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a

The Apostle Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

The finish line is our death on this Earth, the reward is then given for this life, and then eternity is spent based on that reward, that prize.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN?
Then there will come a time when we will have finished our race and we will ALL meet Jesus.  Just imagine that!  We will be so awestruck, so humbled to meet Him we will fall at His feet and begin to worship Him with all that we have got within us.  We will give Him the glory, honor and praise that are due to Him.

All that we have done on this Earth, all that we thought was so important will be cut down to size in proportion to the magnitude of being in Jesus’ presence.

WE WILL BOW DOWN AT HIS FEET
Nothing will compare to being in His mighty and glorious presence.  We will bow down at His feet.  Our lives will literally flash before our eyes.  We will humbly present to Him all that we have done while on this Earth.  All of our ‘works’ will be our gift to Him.  All of our actions, all of our thoughts, all that we were, will be exposed.  Every idle word spoken; every evil thought will be revealed. 

“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  Each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:10,12

THEN WE WILL BE JUDGED
And then we will be judged to determine if we will enter Heaven.   The sad truth is that, based on our own actions, our good ‘works’, we will not be able to enter Heaven.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

“There is no one righteous, not even one.”  Romans 3:10

You see, in order to get to Heaven, to be in God’s presence, He requires perfection.  We must have lived a perfect and blameless life.  Most of us will readily agree, we are not perfect.  We are human.   We all have a sin nature (this goes all the way back to Adam and Eve!).  This is why we are not perfect.  Since we are not perfect, and never have been and never will be, we will not pass the entrance requirements for Heaven.  We will fall short of God’s perfect standards. 

THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE CAN GO IS HELL
Since we have sinned and are not perfect or righteous we simply cannot be in God’s presence.  Based on our ability to meet these requirements, the only place that we can go is Hell - literally.  These are the rules that God set up.  Who can argue with Him?

UNLESS – WE HAVE JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR!
But God knows we are not perfect!  He created us!  So, that’s where Jesus’ role in our eternity comes in.  People always wondered what Jesus did that was so special.  Well, here it is!

You see, the whole reason Jesus died on the cross was to pay the price for our sins and to stand in our place as the perfect person that God requires us to be.  He took our place on the cross and paid our penalty.   He died for your sins, for your imperfection.   Jesus literally became your SAVIOR.  He saves us from the judgment that we deserve.  Jesus gives us the access to God that we could never have on our own. 

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.  Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”  John 3:17,18

JESUS WILL STAND IN OUR PLACE
Jesus will only stand in our place when it is time for us to be judged before God IF we accepted Him as our Savior while we were alive on this Earth.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32,33

If we acknowledge what Jesus did for us while we are still alive on earth, then He will vouch for us when we stand before God.  God will not see us, in our sin and failing, but will see Jesus, in His perfection and victory.  Jesus gives us a clean slate when we stand before God.  We will be able to replace our tarnished image with His perfect image. 

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

Jesus will stand in your place, on your behalf because He paid the price for your sins, your shortcomings.  He took your punishment when He died on the cross for your sins.  You can be clean because Jesus took care of your sin debt – a debt you could never pay yourself.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

THIS IS IT!  DO YOU SEE IT?  DO YOU SEE THAT ACCEPTING JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT YOU MAKE WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE ON THIS EARTH?  DO YOU NOW SEE WHY?

At our death, all the power, wealth, fame that we acquired while on this Earth, will mean NOTHING!  All the connections to powerful people will have no meaning.  Neither will all the ‘things’ that we will have accumulated.

The only connection that will determine anything for all eternity will be your connection, your relationship, and your right standing with JESUS! 

“I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  John 11:25

I ask you if you know today - Will He stand in your place and vouch for you?  Will He say on your behalf, “I paid the price for her sins?"  “I took care of his debt.”

WILL JESUS SAY TO YOU, “ENTER INTO MY REST.  WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT?”

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, as the payment for your sin, He will stand in your place.  You will have a new life and be ‘born again.’  You will be able to hear Him say to you:

“Well done, good and faithful servant!  Come and share your master’s happiness!”  Matthew 25:21

“Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”  Matthew 25:34

You will then live for all eternity with Him!  In paradise, where there is no more pain, sorrow, or suffering.  Where there is constant love, praise and worship. 

Won’t this be a magnificent thing to hear!  Won’t it be awesome to have Jesus welcome you in to Heaven and open the door for you; to have Him invite you into His Heavenly Kingdom and tell you that you have done a good job?  Talk about an outstanding job review!

OR WILL JESUS SAY TO YOU, "DEPART FROM ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU?”
Consider the opposite.  Imagine standing at the gates of heaven with the angels looking for your name, your reservation, in the ultimate reservation book for heaven – The Lamb’s Book of Life – and your name not being there!

“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

Consider being face to face with Jesus, realizing His majesty, His power, His might, and having Him say to you,  

“I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!”  Matthew 7:23

“Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Matthew 25:41

“And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 25:30

NO ADMITTANCE IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS
You see, if Jesus is not your Savior, if you did not acknowledge Him while you were alive in your short time on Earth, if you are not born again, if your name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you will have NO way to get into Heaven.  No one to vouch for you.  No ticket - no admittance.  No second chances.  No chance to change your mind.

All the times you might have said, “someday, later, not now,” when someone told you about Jesus and the Gospel – the Good News – will flash in your mind.  All the chances you had to accept Jesus as your Savior but didn’t do it will be gone.  FOREVER!

THERE’S NO TURNING BACK
There is no turning back once your soul, your spirit, leaves your body.  Like a train on a track, it is heading in one direction or the other.  You can’t make a U-turn once you discover you are going the wrong way.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no way out!  Once we leave this realm, we will ALL see the truth about everything and those of us who did not choose Heaven will not be able to change our minds.  Once we leave this phase of our lives there is no way to change our destination!  The decision (or lack of) we made while alive was very permanent.

“Between us and you (Heaven and Hell) a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”  Luke 16:26

Now this is a very serious subject to think about isn’t it?  With all of this in mind, how should we be living our lives now?   What should we be doing with it?   What should we make sure that we accomplish?

GOALS FOR LIVING WITH ‘FOREVER’ IN MIND
As a society we are into goals.  We set short term, long term, and lifetime goals.  We determine our success by how well we reach those goals.  All of our focus is on our time on Earth though.  We set goals for college, career, marriage, children, retirement and old age.  We don’t plan for much after that except for the funeral arrangements we want.

WHAT ABOUT ETERNAL GOALS?
Since we are going to live forever, we should spend more time focusing on our eternal goals.  Those should be the ones that we are the most concerned with.  We should be setting our goals with forever in mind, not just the next 3 months, 6 months, or 5 years.  Our goals should look like this:

#1 – Accept Jesus as my Savior and know that He paid the price for my entrance into Heaven

#2 - Learn how to worship Jesus

#3 – Grow in spiritual wisdom and knowledge daily

#4 - Make deposits into my Heavenly account, my treasure that is in Heaven
 by loving God and my neighbor and doing good deeds out of love

#5 - Keep learning more about Heaven

These are a lot different than the goals most of us have been setting aren’t they?  Obtaining status and wealth are NOT eternal goals – even though we may call them that because of the pleasure they give us.  We get so caught up with them we turn away from heaven – from our eternity.  But eternal life and the happiness that comes with it are the REAL gifts from God.  

In addition, we do not have to worry about the results, or the fruit, of our eternal goals being taken away, or destroyed.  Our accomplishments are safely stored in the eternal account that is set up for us.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matt 6:19-21

AND THERE’S A BONUS, TOO!
When you work on these eternal goals, the goals you set for Earthly matters will be better achieved also!  Things like clothes, food, drinks, peace, security, joy, love and prosperity.  Your life will take on a fuller meaning than ever before.

“Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Luke 12:31 (Mt 6:33; 7:7)

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”  John 10:10

SERIOUS STUFF, ISN’T IT?  BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE
We’ve covered a lot of serious things here haven’t we?  I told you we would.  It’s necessary for us to know about this.  We can’t dance around the subject all of the time.  It is too important.  But I did say that we would get reassurance out of this too, didn’t I?

YOU CAN KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE
Well, the good news, the reassurance is that you can know for sure that you have eternal life.  Yes, you can!

YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION OF YOUR LIFETIME, NOW!
Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of this matter – Making the decision of your lifetime, now!  Making the choice today to go to Heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.   It is a very simple but powerful one to make and is based on the following truths, taken straight from the Bible:

1)  YOUR NEED:
You must acknowledge that you do not meet God’s perfect standards for living in Heaven.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Romans 3:23

“There is no one righteous, not even one.”  Romans 3:10

2)  YOUR HELPLESSNESS:
You have no way of getting into Heaven by yourself.  Your credentials are not good enough.  It doesn’t matter how many ‘good’ things you did, or if the ‘good’ outweighs the ‘bad.’  It still isn’t good enough.

“Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

“Jesus answered, ‘ I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”   Acts 4:12

3)  GOD’S PROVISION FOR YOUR NEED:
God wants you in Heaven, so He provided a way to get you there and meet His perfect standards at the same time.  He provided Jesus for you.  Jesus’ credentials have been made available to you.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

”God made him (Jesus) Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
1 Peter 3:18

 NOW THE CHOICE IS YOURS
You have been shown God’s part and Jesus’ part in all of this.  They have given you the opportunity and paid the entrance fee.  Now it’s your turn.

YOUR ROLE
You have a big part in this.  Eternal life in Heaven is a gift, and like all gifts, it has to be accepted. You accept it by making the decision to turn from your old way of life and follow the life that Jesus has for you.  This is called repenting – sincere sorrow for sins committed and a deep desire to turn from those sins.

Then you must accept Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for YOUR sins.  You must realize that Jesus died for YOU.  It is a personal thing.  Once you do this you will be ‘born again.’  You will have a new life here on Earth, and your place in Heaven is reserved! 

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.”  Acts 3:19

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  John 3:3

MAKE THE DECISION OF YOUR LIFETIME, NOW!
“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  Rev. 3:20

Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, knocking, waiting for you to open the door and let Him in!  Open the door today.  Let Him in.  Make the decision of your lifetime - the decision on where to live eternally.  Make the choice today to go to Heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Make it now, before it’s too late. 

RECEIVE THE GIFT OF GOD
To make your choice to live your eternal life in heaven pray this simple prayer to Jesus to make YOUR DECISION to be born again and receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven.  Say this prayer out loud:

Dear Lord Jesus,

“I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness.  I believe that You died for my sins.  I turn from my sins, my former way of life and I invite You to come into my heart and life. I trust You as my Savior and I will follow You as Lord.  Amen.“

YOU HAVE ARRIVED!
You did it!  You have made the most important choice of your life.  If you prayed this prayer for the first time with a genuine and repentant heart, you have a reservation in Heaven!  You have chosen Heaven as the place where you will spend eternity!  This is a decision that you will never regret.  You now have a new life on Earth and in eternity! 

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”  1 John 5:13

You can now be sure of where you will be spending eternity.  You have accomplished your first eternal goal – to accept Jesus as your Savior and know that you will be going to heaven.  Your name will remain on the ultimate reservation list - The Lamb’s Book of Life.  This is the book in Heaven where every person’s name that accepted Jesus as his or her Savior remains.

“Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s gook of life.”  Revelation 21:27

Jesus has made you a new creation.  You are now connected to heaven and Jesus can begin to communicate His truths to you in a new way.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 

The Bible says that even the angels in Heaven are rejoicing!

“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:10

GOD’S PROMISE TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
Once you are born again child of God He will protect your position in heaven.  He will take care of you forever.

(Jesus said), “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:28

STEPS TO TAKE TO BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR YOUR NEW LIFE
There is so much to learn about this new life!  You will never get bored on this new journey.  Take the following steps to build a firm foundation for your new life:

1)   Read God’s instruction book to you – The Bible.  Start by reading the Gospel of John followed by Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  The whole book is filled with the wisdom and knowledge you will need on your spiritual journey.  More and more truth and insight will be made known to you as you read His Word.

2)   Start going to church.  Find a church that believes that the Bible is true and that Jesus Christ died for your sins. 

3)   Spend time talking with and listening to Jesus daily.  Pray for new insight into the new life that you now have.  Talk to Him like you would your best friend.  You now have a personal relationship with Him.  He is the best friend you will ever have.  Ask Him for help with all of your needs.

4)   Worship Jesus.  Sing songs about Him and to Him.  Read Psalms.  Praise Him for His goodness, kindness, love, mercy, and for showing you the truth and giving you eternal life in Heaven.

5)   Renew your mind.  Meditate on God’s Word.  Realize that God has a wonderful plan for your life.  There are a lot of promises in the Bible that apply to you!

You will grow deeper and deeper in your knowledge of the truth through your relationship with Jesus.

THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR -
WE DON’T DIE – WE JUST GO TO OUR ‘FOREVER’ PLACE !

It seems like time goes by faster and faster the older we get.  It’s like we just get started figuring out how to live, what’s important and satisfying in life, and then it’s time to die.  The reality is that you don’t die.  You just go on to your ‘forever’ place.  The instant you die you will be in your eternal home.

The exciting thing is that by making the decision to accept Jesus Christ as you Savior, you will live in Heaven, where all the wonderful things you could ever imagine exist - love, peace, joy, freedom, and harmony.  All the good things that we strive for here on this Earth, that we believe can exist, but never do.  They do actually exist in Heaven though.  Just remember this -

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

Jesus is up in heaven right now building a place for all who want to be with Him.  He is preparing a place for us, for His believers.  He is preparing a place for YOU – all you have to do is chose Him and the eternal life that He has for you!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for your, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”  John 14:2-4

“I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

Start working on your REAL retirement home today!  Make Jesus the Lord of your life and make it your goal to know Him more and more the rest of your earthly life.  Everything else will fall in to place.  Then you will know for sure that when the final moving day comes, you will make your move into HEAVEN!

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW LIFE!
Please email or write us and tell us about your commitment.  Let us know if you have any questions.  We want to support you in every way in your new life!  anewlife@lifetothefullest.net

Additional Bible Verses

“Therefore he (Christ) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”  Hebrews 7:25

“To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”  Jude 23

“Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!  Romans 5:9

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.”  1 Thessalonians 5:9,10

“…because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  Then He (God) adds:  ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’”  Hebrews 10:14,17

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.”  Hebrews 10: 27,28a

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”  1 Peter 4:18

John 3:16 says, “…whoever believes in Him (Jesus Christ) shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In Romans 6:23 it also talks about our eternity, saying, “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  Psalm 139:14,16