Knowing For Sure That We’re Going To Heaven

Knowing for Sure That We’re Going to Heaven

Nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem, on the New Earth], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

— Revelation 21:27

I have met no people who fully disbelieved in Hell and also had a living and life-giving belief in Heaven.^a

— C. S. LEWIS

For every American who believes he’s going to Hell, there are 120 who believe they’re going to Heaven.^b This optimism stands in stark contrast to Christ’s words in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

We tend to assume that we are automatically going to Heaven, but we overlook the fact that our sin is sufficient to keep us out: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). Because we are sinners, we are not entitled to enter God’s presence. Because we cannot enter Heaven as we are, Heaven is not our default destination. Before we can see God in Heaven, something must radically change—because, unless our sin problem is resolved, the only place we will go is to our true default destination: Hell.

I am addressing this issue now because throughout this book we will talk about being with Jesus, being reunited with family and friends, and enjoying great adventures in Heaven. The great danger is that readers will assume they are headed for Heaven. Judging by what’s said at most funerals, you’d think nearly everyone’s going to Heaven. But Jesus, in Matthew 7, made it clear that most people are not.

In the Bible, Jesus says more about Hell than anyone else does (Matthew 10:28; 13:40-42; Mark 9:43). He refers to it as a literal place and describes it in graphic terms—including raging fires and the worm that doesn’t die. He says the unsaved “will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus taught that in Hell the wicked suffer terribly, are fully conscious, retain their desires and memories and reasoning, long for relief, cannot be comforted, cannot leave their torment, and are bereft of hope (Luke 16:19-31). He could not have painted a more bleak or graphic picture.

Revelation 21:27 says, “Nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

My friend Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the Book of Life. She was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. The wedding reception was to be held on the top two floors of Seattle’s Columbia Tower, the Northwest’s tallest skyscraper. Ruthanna and her husband, Roy, were excited about attending.

At the start of the reception, the bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase that led to the top floor. Someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs, and the bride and groom ascended, followed by their guests.

At the top of the stairs, outside the door to the great banquet room, the maitre d’ stood holding a bound book.

“May I have your name, please?”

“I’m Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy.”

He searched the M’s. “I’m not finding it. Would you spell it, please?”

Ruthanna spelled her name slowly. After searching the book, the maitre d’ looked up and said, “I’m sorry, but your name isn’t here.”

“There must be some mistake,” Ruthanna replied. “I’m the singer!”

The gentleman answered, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet.”

He motioned to a waiter and said, “Show these people to the service elevator, please.”

The Metzgars followed the waiter past beautifully decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved ice sculptures. Adjacent to the banquet area, an orchestra was preparing to perform, the musicians all dressed in dazzling white tuxedos.

The waiter led Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and pressed G for the parking garage.

After driving several miles in silence, Roy reached over and put his hand on Ruthanna’s arm. “Sweetheart, what happened?”

“When the invitation arrived, I was busy,” Ruthanna replied. “I never bothered to RSVP. Besides, I was the singer. Surely I could go to the reception without returning the RSVP!”

Ruthanna started to weep—not only because she had missed the most lavish banquet she’d ever been invited to, but also because she suddenly had a small taste of what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find that their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.^c

Throughout the ages, countless people have been too busy to respond to Christ’s invitation to his wedding banquet. Many assume that the good they’ve done—perhaps attending church, being baptized, singing in the choir, or helping in a soup kitchen— will be enough to earn their entry to Heaven. But no explanation or excuse will count. All that will matter is whether our names are written in the book. If we haven’t responded to God’s invitation, we’ll be turned away.

To be denied entrance to Heaven’s wedding feast will not mean just going down the service elevator to the garage. It will mean being cast outside into Hell, forever.

Forgiveness is not automatic. If we want to be forgiven, we must recognize and repent of our sins: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Forgiveness is established by our confession: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). There’s no righteous deed we can do that will earn us a place in Heaven (Titus 3:5). We come to Christ empty handed. We can take no credit for salvation: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus Christ offers everyone the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life: “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17). God determined that he would rather go to Hell on our behalf than live in Heaven without us. He wants us not to go to Hell so much that he paid a horrible price on the cross so that we wouldn’t have to.

Have you said yes to Christ’s invitation to join him at the wedding feast and spend eternity with him in his house? If so, you have reason to rejoice—Heaven’s gates will be open to you. But if you have been putting off your response, or if you assume that you can enter Heaven without responding to Christ’s invitation, one day you will deeply regret your decision, or your indecision.

Have you said yes to God’s invitation? Can you think of a better time than right now to say yes?

God, I pray for any readers who have not yet claimed your gift of salvation through Jesus. Move their hearts to repent of their sins and to give their lives over to you. You know whose names are written in your book. Bring people to faith in Jesus so that they may be made right with you through Christ’s redemptive work and so that they may spend a wonderful eternity together with you in Heaven. Lord, what a miracle that you have offered Heaven to us, who deserve Hell. Thank you for your offer of grace, which was so costly to you that it might be free to us.