Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 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. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ - Matthew 7:20-23. 

Imagine the shock, you have a dream vacation planned to the city of Sydney, Australia with all of its attractions but when you get off the plane you are on the wrong continent. Instead of Australia you’re in Canada! Emma Dunn and Raoul Sebastian purchased their tickets in London over the Internet and did not realize anything was wrong until they landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In Halifax they were asked to transfer to a small propeller driven plane for the last leg of the trip to Sydney. Sydney, Nova Scotia! Nova Scotia’s Sydney is known as the “steel city” with a population of 26,083. Emma and Raoul are now trying to make the best of their unexpected visit to the wrong continent and the wrong Sydney. Andrea Batten, an employee of Air Canada in Nova Scotia said, “They decided they might as well stay for a few days, having come all this way. It’s going to be a trip to remember.” 

Spiritually there are many who are on their way to an unexpected destination. When they arrive it will be the ultimate in surprise and disappointment. Instead of Heaven it will be that other place. There are many who honestly believe they are serving God and that they will one day be in Heaven, but Jesus says they will not be. How could this happen? 

Earthly destinations for the most part have many different ways in which you can travel to them. Many believe that Heaven is like that, but it is not. Jesus makes this clear in John 14:6 saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” It is only through Jesus that we may travel to Heaven. There is no other way provided by God. Jesus is the bridge between sinful man (Romans 3:23) and God who is perfectly holy, perfectly righteous (Isaiah 6:3). Jesus who was tempted at all points without sin became the perfect sacrifice. So as by one man, Adam, sin entered into the world by one man, Jesus, a way is provided for reconciliation with God. “Therefore, as through one man‘s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man‘s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life (Romans 5:18 - Read all of Romans chapter 5 for context also 6:23 and 10:9 -13).” There is only one way to Heaven and that one way was provided at great cost through the sacrifice of God’s Son on the cross. To reject that one way and try to travel to Heaven by any other route will only result in our condemning ourselves (John 3:17-21). 

Good works without Jesus is not the way to Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-10). Depending on church membership or baptism is not the way to Heaven because they are something that man does and is an attempt at using a different form of good work to gain access to Heaven (Note - Of course we should follow the Lord Jesus in Baptism once we know Him as Savior. However, baptism without knowing Jesus as our Savior or church membership without knowing Jesus as our Savior will not save us). Jesus says very clearly what is necessary to arrive safely at the Heavenly destination, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” Have you believed?  

The Bible says in John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Have you received Him (Jesus) by believing on His name? In Revelation 3:20 we are told, “Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Have you opened the door of your heart to Jesus? The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:13, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Have you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus? 

There is only one way to Heaven, but that way is well marked and very clear. To receive Christ as your Savior, pray the prayer below which is based on the related Scriptures above “Dear Lord Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose again on the third day. Please forgive me for the sins, the bad things I have done, I want to change and be like You. Please help me to change, be my Lord and my Master and my Savior. In your name Lord Jesus I ask You to come into my heart and save me. Amen.” Please remember that words alone will not save you. Only if you truly mean it in your heart will you be saved. If you do pray the prayer above and mean it in your heart, please send me an email at theburningbushdevotional@gmail.com  and I will send you additional helpful information.