When I share the gospel I often ask people if they are certain if they will go to heaven.  They typically answer, “I hope so.” They lack a certain hope. That’s because people who don’t know the biblical way of salvation are usually trusting in their good works to earn their way into heaven. They lack confidence about going to heaven because they lack confidence that their works will be good enough to earn entry into heaven.

Our job is to share the truth that our works can never be good enough for heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only work that matters when it comes to heaven is the work that Christ completed on the cross. Only those who come to Christ in repentant faith may know a certain hope of heaven (John 14:6). 

In the opening verses of John 14, the Lord comforted believers with the certainty of heaven. “I go to prepare a place for you,” said Jesus. “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).  

Are you looking forward to heaven? Heaven is a perfectly holy place (Psalm 20:6). It is a place without sin or sinners (Revelation 21:8). None of the evil of this world will be there. Heaven is a place of spectacular beauty (Revelation 4:2-3, 21:18-21). None of the ugliness of this world will be there. Heaven is a place of humble worship (Revelation 4:8). None of the pride of this world will be there. And Heaven is a place where God’s people will rest from our earthly labor (Revelation 14:13).  

Heaven is the place where God’s people “shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more” (Revelation 7:16). It is where “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:4). 

Consider your response to the certainty of heaven. Believers are called to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Believers are called to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). And believers are called to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). That involves faithfully serving our Lord on this side of heaven.  

Father, help us to find comfort in our certain hope of heaven (Romans 15:13). And help us to humbly tell others how they may also know our certain hope! 

Learn more about the certain hope that we find in Christ.  See bit.ly/CertainHope

Copyright © 2020 Robert W. Hammond.