Heaven is for real.

I came across this article on having a 'aha' moment and taking my relationship deeper with Christ. It was so helpful in understanding more that it's not MY good deeds or good heart that will get me into the Kingdom of Heaven but my simply accepting the free gift of salvation from God. WOW - it's really that simple. Please read on and enjoy the enlightenment and encouragement I found in this article. It's packed full with God's truths and promises.

No one knows God simply by virtue of being alive. It takes an "aha" moment so to speak. It requires divine revelation, which brings about an understanding of grace and salvation.

So have you had your aha moment with God, or not?

I didn't ask if you are religious, or if you experience spiritual longings and some measure of inner peace. Those realities are felt by multitudes of people whether they have had their aha moment or not. It's the difference between relying upon Christ's death on the cross, versus striving to make yourself acceptable to your Creator by your own deeds.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith and not that of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man boast."

Before our aha moment, we are clueless to what "grace" really means. There is a spiritual fog of sorts which clouds our thinking in the area of religion. We still think of good religion as man's attempts to earn God's approval.

One way to sort through it is to imagine what you would say if God asked you why you should get into heaven. If you point to your efforts as the basis for your entrance, then it doesn't sound like you have had your aha moment.

Without spiritual conversion, all man can do is try to act religious. But that common approach won't connect you to God.

Think of it in terms of athletics for a moment. Have you ever been in a game where people pick teams? Everyone lines up, and each captain chooses one player at a time. Of course the best players are chosen first.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6

Well, what if it worked that way with your soul? What if you could "pick your team" so to speak? You could choose a famous prophet for example, or you could choose your "church attendance" or "community service" as members of your team. Imagine nothing being off limits. Whatever team members you feel would give you the best shot at getting into heaven.

Now I will pick my team. Remember. I can choose whoever I want, or whatever actions I want to be on my team.

I would choose Jesus Christ. I would choose His death on the cross, and His resurrection. That's it. That's my team. You see, I trust entirely in that team for salvation. I am placing no confidence whatsoever in anything I do for the Lord. I need Christ and His cross. And I have it. Through faith, the victory is mine, and it belongs to everyone who relies upon the winning team.

If a high school football team played against a professional Super Bowl team, the score would not even be close. It wouldn't matter if they played one game, or fifty games. It would be a blowout every time. And the same is true for those who spend their entire life trusting in their efforts (their team) to get into heaven. It isn't even close. No one who attempts to get into heaven that way ever succeeds.

Here is how the Bible describes the aha moment which every Christian has experienced: "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Titus 3:5-7

Man cannot meet God or know Him by doing "righteous things." It requires "the washing of rebirth." That's conversion. That's the aha moment. And it requires "renewal by the Holy Spirit." In other words, you and I don't have the power to save our soul. We need God to work this miracle for us, as we place our confidence in Christ alone rather than in our works and our religious deeds. That's what "grace" is all about. It means God justifies us on account of Christ's death on the cross as we place our faith in Jesus.

So I encourage you to evaluate your team and ask yourself? Do I really want to stake the well-being of my soul on that team? Do I really believe that I'm trusting EVERYTHING to Jesus or just pieces and parts and hoping my good deeds fill in the blanks? HMM.

This might be your moment. This might finally be the time you stop trusting yourself, and actually begin trusting Jesus for salvation.

So is Jesus your all in all, or are you relying upon a team other than Christ and His cross?

Only Christ provides eternal victory for immortal souls. And only the Holy Spirit can produce your aha moment.

HT ChristianPost

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