If you have ever entered in foreign countries, you know the importance of a passport. Regardless of your status or charisma, that document is what qualifies you for entry and acceptance in a different country.
We also need a “passport” to get into heaven, if that is where we wish to go. Those who have such a travel document can rejoice in their citizenship long before their arrival. Paul wrote that for those who are children of God, then citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
But don’t imagine for a moment that you will get to heaven without the right credentials. You will not be there because your husband or wife is able to enter, you will not be there because you have a child or parent who is already there. No, this is an individual matter, and only those with the right documentation will be allowed entry.
This is another way of saying that not one person can enter heaven without God’s specific approval. We cannot come to heaven’s gate hoping for leniency. We cannot come pleading for special favors or exceptions. Passports are not available on the other side of the border.
What God Requires: How perfect do you have to be to enter heaven? The answer: As perfect as God! The question then is: How can we be as perfect as God? The answer: We can never be perfect on our own.
The Bible says that we “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) Since we all have sinned that means that no one is perfect. But God chose to credit the perfection of his Son, Jesus, to our account so that we can enter heaven…on Jesus merit, since we have nothing to qualify us! How did God do this? The answer: God allowed his perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to be a sacrifice for sinners, which God legally accepted.
Though Christ is perfect, God made him legally guilty of all of our sins. Jesus literally took our place and accepted the punishment we deserved for our sins. In exchange, when we believe in Him as our Savior, our substitute, we receive his righteousness, his perfection, in the sight of God. “For our sake He God, made Him Christ, to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him, Jesus, we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) This was accomplished by Jesus Christ being crucified on a cross, dying, and then being resurrected from the dead as Scriptures foretold. With his resurrection, he conquered sin and death, and now offers us eternal life in heaven.
Perhaps you think that you have sinned too much to receive such a gift. But the Bible says that everyone, every person, from every race, and every walk of life, who calls on His name will be saved (Romans 10:13). Saved from a life that does not please God and saved from eternal punishment for our sins.
What we must do? How can we receive this free gift of eternal life? The answer is to admit our helplessness and to acknowledge that we are dependent on God’s mercy. Then we must transfer all of our trust to Jesus as our sin-bearer. We must believe in Jesus as the One who did all that we will ever need in order to enter Heaven and stand in God’s Holy presence someday. To believe in Christ means that as best we know, we trust Him for all that we need in this life and in the life to come.
If you desire to transfer your trust to Christ alone for your eternal salvation, here is a prayer that can help express that heartfelt desire. If you pray in faith, God will receive you.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to work my way to heaven. At this moment, I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when he died on the cross. I believe that he did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your Holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of your promise. As best I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me, despite my many sins and failures. I thank you for you grace and mercy. I thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus name, amen…
John 8:32