Is There Really a Ticket to Get into Heaven?

Romans 10:9—That 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.

Do you live your life like Heaven is some far off destination for which you’ve already purchased your entry ticket?  Do you look forward to heaven kind of like it’s a vacation to Disney World that you dread the preparation but know you will enjoy once you get there?  The thing is, knowing God is about so much more than just getting to Heaven when we die.  It goes beyond just declaring that we believe Jesus is God’s Son who died to save us from our sins.  Being a Christian means desiring and seeking out intimate relationship with God constantly.  When I was younger, someone I knew once said to me, “I am a Christian because, if it all ends up being true, I want to be on the side that ends up in Heaven.”  Those words saddened me deeply because I knew that deep down inside this person had no real faith.  He could declare a belief in Jesus Christ because he knew enough to hedge his bets, but this person did not have a deep personal relationship with His Savior.  Yes, it is true that God has saved us by grace—we could not have earned it if we tried.  But at the same time, that gift of grace should create in us a desire to constantly know and become more like Christ every moment of every day.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the gift of grace.  Thank Him for chasing after you and desiring a deep personal relationship with you.  Thoughtfully examine your deepest heart and ask yourself—Am I just waiting to get to heaven? Do I live like my entry ticket is in my pocket?  Ask God to open your spirit and guide you into a deeper more personal relationship, one in which you daily discover deeper and more incredible facets of your Savior.