Need to know.
Could You Be Missing Heaven While Thinking You're Going There?
The Question Every Soul Must Answer Before It's Too Late
If I were to ask you today, "Are you going to heaven?" how would you answer?
Many people would confidently say, "Yes."
After all, they believe in God. They attend church from time to time. They try to be good people. They help others, avoid serious crimes, and live respectable lives.
But what if confidence alone is not enough?
What if a person could sincerely believe they are on their way to heaven and still be mistaken?
That may sound unsettling, but it is exactly the concern Jesus addressed during His earthly ministry.
## The Most Sobering Words Jesus Ever Spoke
In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus said:
> "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Notice who Jesus is speaking about.
These are not atheists.
These are not people who openly rejected God.
These are people who called Jesus "Lord."
They were religious. They were active. They believed they were accepted by God.
Yet Jesus continues:
> "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'"
Then comes one of the most frightening statements in all of Scripture:
> "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me.'"
The tragedy was not that they thought they were lost.
The tragedy was that they thought they were saved.
The Danger of Religious Confidence
Many people place their confidence in things that cannot save them.
Some trust in church attendance.
Others trust in baptism.
Some trust in their good works.
Others trust in their family heritage, assuming that because they were raised in a Christian home, they are automatically right with God.
But the Bible never teaches that any of these things can save a person.
Church attendance is good.
Baptism is important.
Good works matter.
But none of them can remove sin.
None of them can make a guilty person righteous before a holy God.
Salvation is not earned through religious activity.
Salvation is received through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Difference Between Knowing About Jesus and Knowing Jesus
Many people know facts about Jesus.
They know He was born in Bethlehem.
They know He died on a cross.
They know He rose from the dead.
But knowing facts about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him personally.
You can know about a famous person without having a relationship with them.
Likewise, a person can know Bible stories, attend services, and even serve in ministry while never surrendering their heart to Christ.
Jesus did not say, "You never knew about Me."
He said:
> "I never knew you."
Christianity is not merely a religion to practice.
It is a relationship to enter.
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Saved?
The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).
No one is good enough to earn heaven.
No one can save themselves.
That is why Jesus came.
He lived the sinless life we could never live.
He died the death we deserved.
He bore our sins on the cross.
Three days later, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death.
The message of the Gospel is not "Try harder."
The message of the Gospel is "Trust Christ."
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
> "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Salvation is God's gift.
It is received by faith.
How Can You Know You Are Saved?
The Bible gives believers assurance.
1 John 5:13 says:
> "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."
Notice the word *know*.
God does not want His children living in constant uncertainty.
Our assurance is not based on our feelings.
It is based on God's promises.
If you have genuinely repented of your sin and placed your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you can have confidence in His saving work.
The question is not:
"Have I been religious?"
The question is:
"Have I trusted Christ?"
The question is not:
"Do I attend church?"
The question is:
"Do I belong to Jesus?"
The question is not:
"Do I know about Him?"
The question is:
"Do I know Him?"
## Examine Yourself
The Apostle Paul wrote:
> "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)
That is not a call to fear.
It is a call to honesty.
Eternity is too important to assume.
Too many people compare themselves to others.
But one day, we will not stand beside other people.
We will stand before God.
On that day, our church membership will not save us.
Our good intentions will not save us.
Our religious activities will not save us.
Only Jesus saves.
A Final Thought
One of the greatest deceptions is not knowing you are lost.
It is believing you are found when you are not.
If there is any uncertainty in your heart today, do not ignore it.
Turn to Christ.
Trust in His finished work on the cross.
Call upon His name.
Surrender your life to Him.
The good news is that Jesus does not reject those who come to Him in faith.
He said:
> "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37)
Heaven is not reserved for the perfect.
It is reserved for those who have been forgiven through faith in the perfect Savior.
So ask yourself honestly:
**Could you be missing heaven while thinking you're going there?**
The answer to that question may be the most important answer you ever give.
Could You Be Missing Heaven While Thinking You're Going There?
The Question Every Soul Must Answer Before It's Too Late
If I were to ask you today, "Are you going to heaven?" how would you answer?
Many people would confidently say, "Yes."
After all, they believe in God. They attend church from time to time. They try to be good people. They help others, avoid serious crimes, and live respectable lives.
But what if confidence alone is not enough?
What if a person could sincerely believe they are on their way to heaven and still be mistaken?
That may sound unsettling, but it is exactly the concern Jesus addressed during His earthly ministry.
## The Most Sobering Words Jesus Ever Spoke
In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus said:
> "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Notice who Jesus is speaking about.
These are not atheists.
These are not people who openly rejected God.
These are people who called Jesus "Lord."
They were religious. They were active. They believed they were accepted by God.
Yet Jesus continues:
> "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'"
Then comes one of the most frightening statements in all of Scripture:
> "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me.'"
The tragedy was not that they thought they were lost.
The tragedy was that they thought they were saved.
The Danger of Religious Confidence
Many people place their confidence in things that cannot save them.
Some trust in church attendance.
Others trust in baptism.
Some trust in their good works.
Others trust in their family heritage, assuming that because they were raised in a Christian home, they are automatically right with God.
But the Bible never teaches that any of these things can save a person.
Church attendance is good.
Baptism is important.
Good works matter.
But none of them can remove sin.
None of them can make a guilty person righteous before a holy God.
Salvation is not earned through religious activity.
Salvation is received through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Difference Between Knowing About Jesus and Knowing Jesus
Many people know facts about Jesus.
They know He was born in Bethlehem.
They know He died on a cross.
They know He rose from the dead.
But knowing facts about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him personally.
You can know about a famous person without having a relationship with them.
Likewise, a person can know Bible stories, attend services, and even serve in ministry while never surrendering their heart to Christ.
Jesus did not say, "You never knew about Me."
He said:
> "I never knew you."
Christianity is not merely a religion to practice.
It is a relationship to enter.
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Saved?
The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).
No one is good enough to earn heaven.
No one can save themselves.
That is why Jesus came.
He lived the sinless life we could never live.
He died the death we deserved.
He bore our sins on the cross.
Three days later, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death.
The message of the Gospel is not "Try harder."
The message of the Gospel is "Trust Christ."
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
> "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Salvation is God's gift.
It is received by faith.
How Can You Know You Are Saved?
The Bible gives believers assurance.
1 John 5:13 says:
> "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."
Notice the word *know*.
God does not want His children living in constant uncertainty.
Our assurance is not based on our feelings.
It is based on God's promises.
If you have genuinely repented of your sin and placed your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you can have confidence in His saving work.
The question is not:
"Have I been religious?"
The question is:
"Have I trusted Christ?"
The question is not:
"Do I attend church?"
The question is:
"Do I belong to Jesus?"
The question is not:
"Do I know about Him?"
The question is:
"Do I know Him?"
## Examine Yourself
The Apostle Paul wrote:
> "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)
That is not a call to fear.
It is a call to honesty.
Eternity is too important to assume.
Too many people compare themselves to others.
But one day, we will not stand beside other people.
We will stand before God.
On that day, our church membership will not save us.
Our good intentions will not save us.
Our religious activities will not save us.
Only Jesus saves.
A Final Thought
One of the greatest deceptions is not knowing you are lost.
It is believing you are found when you are not.
If there is any uncertainty in your heart today, do not ignore it.
Turn to Christ.
Trust in His finished work on the cross.
Call upon His name.
Surrender your life to Him.
The good news is that Jesus does not reject those who come to Him in faith.
He said:
> "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37)
Heaven is not reserved for the perfect.
It is reserved for those who have been forgiven through faith in the perfect Savior.
So ask yourself honestly:
**Could you be missing heaven while thinking you're going there?**
The answer to that question may be the most important answer you ever give.
Need to know.
Could You Be Missing Heaven While Thinking You're Going There?
The Question Every Soul Must Answer Before It's Too Late
If I were to ask you today, "Are you going to heaven?" how would you answer?
Many people would confidently say, "Yes."
After all, they believe in God. They attend church from time to time. They try to be good people. They help others, avoid serious crimes, and live respectable lives.
But what if confidence alone is not enough?
What if a person could sincerely believe they are on their way to heaven and still be mistaken?
That may sound unsettling, but it is exactly the concern Jesus addressed during His earthly ministry.
## The Most Sobering Words Jesus Ever Spoke
In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus said:
> "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
Notice who Jesus is speaking about.
These are not atheists.
These are not people who openly rejected God.
These are people who called Jesus "Lord."
They were religious. They were active. They believed they were accepted by God.
Yet Jesus continues:
> "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'"
Then comes one of the most frightening statements in all of Scripture:
> "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me.'"
The tragedy was not that they thought they were lost.
The tragedy was that they thought they were saved.
The Danger of Religious Confidence
Many people place their confidence in things that cannot save them.
Some trust in church attendance.
Others trust in baptism.
Some trust in their good works.
Others trust in their family heritage, assuming that because they were raised in a Christian home, they are automatically right with God.
But the Bible never teaches that any of these things can save a person.
Church attendance is good.
Baptism is important.
Good works matter.
But none of them can remove sin.
None of them can make a guilty person righteous before a holy God.
Salvation is not earned through religious activity.
Salvation is received through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Difference Between Knowing About Jesus and Knowing Jesus
Many people know facts about Jesus.
They know He was born in Bethlehem.
They know He died on a cross.
They know He rose from the dead.
But knowing facts about Jesus is not the same as knowing Him personally.
You can know about a famous person without having a relationship with them.
Likewise, a person can know Bible stories, attend services, and even serve in ministry while never surrendering their heart to Christ.
Jesus did not say, "You never knew about Me."
He said:
> "I never knew you."
Christianity is not merely a religion to practice.
It is a relationship to enter.
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Saved?
The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).
No one is good enough to earn heaven.
No one can save themselves.
That is why Jesus came.
He lived the sinless life we could never live.
He died the death we deserved.
He bore our sins on the cross.
Three days later, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death.
The message of the Gospel is not "Try harder."
The message of the Gospel is "Trust Christ."
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
> "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Salvation is God's gift.
It is received by faith.
How Can You Know You Are Saved?
The Bible gives believers assurance.
1 John 5:13 says:
> "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."
Notice the word *know*.
God does not want His children living in constant uncertainty.
Our assurance is not based on our feelings.
It is based on God's promises.
If you have genuinely repented of your sin and placed your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you can have confidence in His saving work.
The question is not:
"Have I been religious?"
The question is:
"Have I trusted Christ?"
The question is not:
"Do I attend church?"
The question is:
"Do I belong to Jesus?"
The question is not:
"Do I know about Him?"
The question is:
"Do I know Him?"
## Examine Yourself
The Apostle Paul wrote:
> "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)
That is not a call to fear.
It is a call to honesty.
Eternity is too important to assume.
Too many people compare themselves to others.
But one day, we will not stand beside other people.
We will stand before God.
On that day, our church membership will not save us.
Our good intentions will not save us.
Our religious activities will not save us.
Only Jesus saves.
A Final Thought
One of the greatest deceptions is not knowing you are lost.
It is believing you are found when you are not.
If there is any uncertainty in your heart today, do not ignore it.
Turn to Christ.
Trust in His finished work on the cross.
Call upon His name.
Surrender your life to Him.
The good news is that Jesus does not reject those who come to Him in faith.
He said:
> "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37)
Heaven is not reserved for the perfect.
It is reserved for those who have been forgiven through faith in the perfect Savior.
So ask yourself honestly:
**Could you be missing heaven while thinking you're going there?**
The answer to that question may be the most important answer you ever give.
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