Where are you Going?

Where are you going?” was the question the traffic officer asked the motorist who, because he was late for an important meeting, had rushed the light making a quick left turn in front of oncoming traffic.  The motorist was a seminary student who told the officer, “I’m studying for the ministry, and I was hurrying to get to a special meeting.”  To which the officer replied, “You better slow down, or you are going to get to heaven before you want to.”  He gave the student a warning ticket and let him go.

The question the officer asked is a good question for all of us to consider about life.  “Where are you going?”  Isn’t it logical to think that life consists of more than simply living a few short years and then dying?  I’m afraid that many people are rushing through life trying to enjoy every minute, but they forget to answer the all-important question, “Where are you going?”

Listen to what the Bible tells us about heaven:

1)    Heaven is God’s gift to us.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

2)    Heaven can be ours through Christ.  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:11-12).

3)    Jesus is preparing heaven for those who have put their trust in Him.  “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

4)    Our good works cannot attain heaven.  “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).

5)    Heaven is assured to those who personally receive Christ. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

So, “Where are you going?”  Are you ready to meet God?  Are you confident that if you should die tonight you would go to heaven?  You can be ready to meet God and be assured of heaven.  How?  All you need to do is to put your faith in God and trust Him alone.  Pray to God.  Ask Him to forgive your sins, come into your life, and be your Savior.  He will.  And then with complete confidence your answer to the “Where are you going?” question will be “heaven”. The Apostle John confirms this when he says,  “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13).

Freedom

On July 4, 1776, America claimed its independence from Britain and democracy was born.  Every day people leave their homeland to come to the “land of the free and the home of the brave” so they can begin their American Dream.  On this holiday each year, those who are Americans celebrate freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, services, fly-overs, and family gatherings.

In our country we enjoy both national freedom and individual freedom.  But there is another freedom that we do not think much about on the 4^th of July and that is spiritual freedom.  In the New International Version of the Bible, there are 24 references to the word “freedom”.  It is interesting that God sent Jesus Christ into the world to provide spiritual freedom for us. The Apostle Paul reminded his hearers of spiritual freedom available in Christ when he said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (II Corinthians 3:17). It was Jesus who also said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor” (Luke 4:19-20). Jesus further reminded people that freedom comes through truth when He said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

When the disciples asked Jesus about the way to heaven, He replied, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  Spiritual freedom comes from Jesus and it is found in Him.  As we approach our country’s day of reflection let’s rejoice in the national and individual freedom we have.  However, I would also encourage you to think about the spiritual freedom that is available for you and me.  Have you received the freedom that Christ came to give?  Turn in faith to Christ today.  He will set you free and you will find yourself enjoying spiritual freedom. The Apostle Paul summed up this freedom when he said, “Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).