April 1^st passed without anyone playing a prank on me. I guess that is a good thing. We like jokes and humor and especially people who make us laugh. 

We learn, though, to take what they say with a grain of salt…because we know they are usually not serious, we think they are always kidding.

But one thing I believe to be true: When God says that eternal life in heaven is through His Son ONLY, He was not kidding. 

Peter testified: There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).

Jesus implored His listeners in the Sermon on the Mount: Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

This means there are only two ways of life…and only one leads to eternity in heaven… and the majority will not follow that road. Jesus said the road to life is the hard road. It is the difficult road. But it is also the way of eternity, one that brings peace that passes all understanding, and a joy that is uncontainable.

Paul wrote: This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame. (Romans 10:8b-11)

Just believing in God is not enough…even the demons believe. 

The question is not do you believe in God?
The question is—has your life been changed by Jesus?

Yet many, even some church members, just assume that as long as X believes in God, X will go to heaven…no matter how X lived. They are just like Israel in the OT. They faced judgment and exile from their Promised Land because they lived like God didn’t exist. They believed in God, they counted on His blessings, yet they weren’t faithful to follow Him.

We need to make sure that we share our hope with others…no matter the blowback we get. People don’t need a false sense of hope. It DOES matter what they believe and how they live. They need the truth.

Jesus said, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE goes to the Father but by Me.

Who are you praying for that needs to be saved? Pray also for an opportunity to share your hope in Jesus. Share in love the offer that Jesus makes. Heaven is for all who have received Christ as Lord and Savior…not for good people who have done good things.