If You Were to Die Today, Would You Go to Heaven?

What a question. Some would call it THE question. In the past two weeks I’ve had five different conversations with five different people about the subject of eternal life and being rightly connected to God. Each person initiated the conversation with me.

How would you answer the question, “If you were to die today, would you go to heaven?”

One might wonder, who is asking such a question? Is it soldiers who are about to ship off to Iraq? Is it people who are in the ER or about to undergo serious surgery?

Actually, a recent survey shows that 1 out of every 5 respondents wonder daily about the certainty of going to heaven; 13% think about it weekly; 12% monthly; 9% consider the question at least once a year. Less than half (44%) claim that they never think about eternal destiny.

For the record, the Bible has a lot to say about the subject.

What is eternal life?
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

Who is in danger of not having eternal life?
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6:23

How does one gain eternal life?
“…The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
“Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Can one really know if they have eternal life and are going to heaven?
“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

Friend, this is the heart of the Easter event and experience. Everyone has sinned. Sin separates us from God. We need a Savior who will forgive our sin and restore us to a relationship with God.

Jesus is the Savior. Jesus gives us the gift of relationship with God and eternal life. We receive His gift by confessing (He’s Lord) and believing (God raised Him from the dead) and asking Jesus to save us.

Does that make sense? Have you taken that kind of step of faith? I consider the reading of today’s post to be a divine appointment between you and God. What will you do with this special moment of reflection?