Is heaven real?
Is heaven real?
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Is heaven real? If it is real, who will enter heaven after they die?
These questions worry many people.
Many realise that when they face death, it is too late to change how they lived on earth. Some believe they will be judged for what they did on earth. They fear that they didn’t do enough to deserve eternal heaven.
Jesus confirms in his teaching that heaven is real. He often teaches about it and warns people of the dangers of the opposite place , eternal hell.
Watch the video, where Jesus challenges a rich man who was concerned about his eternal future. By the end of their chat Jesus tells him how to find eternal peace. He says to the man that he must give away his earthly riches and follow him. During this same event Jesus praises his disciple Peter, who had left everything to follow him. It seems that Jesus speaks about one main requirement for entering heaven. It is a willingness to follow Jesus.
See what Jesus teaches about heaven and eternal life.
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Mark 10: 17-31
Read what teaches teaches us about heaven and eternal life
Mark 10:17-31 (NIV)
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
How can a person know if they will experience eternity in Heaven or Hell? Write to us if you wish to find out more about this important question.
Can my good deeds cancel out my bad deeds?
Can my good deeds cancel out my bad deeds?
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In some ways it seems fair for our good and our bad deeds to be recorded and put in weighing scales. However, in the Holy Bible God is often talked about as a father. It is unusual for a father to constantly weigh up the good and bad deeds in his children.
For example, one time when Jesus was teaching, he told an interesting story. The story was about a father who had two sons. One of the sons took his father’s money, left home and wasted it all, and lived a bad life. However, eventually, he returns home and says sorry to his father.
Without hesitation the father welcomes his son back home. On his return, the father doesn’t weigh up the good and bad deeds done by his son. No, instead, he welcomes the son back, simply because he is his child. He is accepted because the father, who represents God, longs for his people to return to him. Watch or read the story and ask yourself- in this story which son am I like?
What is God saying to you through this wonderful story?
Watch the story of the LOST SON as told by Jesus
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Luke 15 11-24
Read the story of the LOST SON
Luke 15 11-24 (NIV) The ‘lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
To read the end of the story
Luke 15 25-32 (NIV)
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The story answers some questions but raises others. How can God (as our Father) accept us back if we have done wrong things? Is that right? Is it fair? Please contact us to discuss further or ask us questions.