Finding the way to heaven

When we travel, maps and GPS apps guide us to our destination. But how do we find the way to heaven, and how many ways are there?

Understanding heaven
Heaven is where God lives and rules (Appendix A). Jesus taught His followers to pray to “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9NLT). Heaven is a spiritual place which we can’t see. It existed before the physical universe began.

God is preparing heaven for His followers (John 14:2). It is a place where “there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain” (Revelation 20:4).

Knowing God
God is powerful – He created the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1:1). He is eternal, without a beginning. The Bible is God’s message to us, helping us understand His qualities like justice, love and mercy.

Knowing Jesus
Jesus is God (Appendix B). He proved this by performing miracles, rising from the dead, and not dying again. Reading the Bible provides more insight into Jesus.

Our way of life
People often live their own way, not God’s way (Romans 2:8). This disobedience, indifference, and rebellion towards God (known as sin), keeps us from heaven. Living without considering Jesus leads to a path away from heaven.

The song “Go you own way” is used to advertise the Isuzu ute (pickup truck) in Australia. Wisdom Homes use the slogan “Live your own way”. And Frank Sinatra sang “I did it my way”. But living without any consideration of what Jesus has done is the way to hell, not to heaven.

Understanding hell
Hell is a real spiritual place where people face punishment and separation from God (Luke 16:28, 2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is the opposite of heaven.

Jesus’ role
Jesus came to Earth to open the way to heaven. The only path to heaven is through Jesus – He said, “No one can come to the Father [God] except through me” (John 14:6). He did this by dying to take the penalty for our disobedience, indifference and rebellion towards God.

The Bible says, “this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son [Jesus], so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish (in hell) but have eternal life (in heaven) (John 3:16).

Accepting Jesus
To avoid hell and go to heaven, we must accept who Jesus is (the creator), acknowledge our situation (no one is good enough to get to heaven), and understand what He has done for us (Jesus took the penalty for us when He died). That is the only way to heaven.

Changing direction
Then we need to change from living our ungodly way to living God’s way. Trusting Jesus allows us to turn from our path to God’s path.

Appendix A: “Heaven” in the Bible
The Bible uses “heaven” in three ways: the earth’s atmosphere, the universe of stars and galaxies, and as God’s dwelling place. Today, we mainly refer to “heaven” as God’s dwelling place.

Appendix B: The Trinity
The Bible teaches that God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all God.

Postscript
This is a simplified version of “The way to heaven”.

Written, November 2023