WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

"Well," you ask, "how would I know?" Thank God, according to the Bible, not only can you know, but you can choose where you will spend eternity. Now we all believe -- or at least most claim to believe -- in the Bible as God's Word.
We believe in eternity and know that life is short. The Bible itself asks, "What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14).
Many claim to believe in heaven and in hell, yet, unfortunately, show little concern over their eternal destiny. We are far more concerned about this life than the next, yet we know that eternity is endless. The Word of God describes it as being "forever and ever" (Revelation 22:5).
Just think...an eternity to be spent forever, either in the perfect paradise called heaven or in the terrible torments of hell.
Surely we'll agree that it is just good sense to prepare for eternity now, before it is forever too late. God says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
"Well," you say, "I believe in God, go to church, and live the best I can. What else can I do?"
Now believing in God, attending church, and doing one's best are all admirable; yet, according to the Word of God, these cannot get us to heaven. Neither according to God, can our church membership, baptism, confirmation, nor our good deeds attain for us eternal life.
But God has provided an answer to the matter of life and death, heaven and hell. It is an answer so simple that it is frequently overlooked.
A religious leader named Nicodemus came to Jesus one night for help. Jesus told him, "You must born again," and expanded this to include all of us by stating quite emphatically, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Pretty dogmatic perhaps, but these are the words of Christ himself.
Some today, like Nicodemus, will ask, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4). But Jesus answers, "That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit i s spirit" (John 3:6), stating again that one must experience a spiritual rebirth in order to enter heaven -- "You must be born again" (John 3:7).
Now, have you been born again? Have you experienced this spiritual rebirth? This is the one thing, according to the Bible, that will determine your eternal destiny.
So for those who really want to know how to be born again, here is the answer from God's Word.
We must recognize that we are sinners, that we've all violated God's laws. The Bible says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God... There is none righteous, no not one...There is not a just man upon the earth, that does good and sins not. ..If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us...If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (Romans 3:23, 10; Ecclesiastes7:20; 1 John 1:8,10).
We must repent of our sins. The Bible says that God "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). Jesus said, "Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). And it is not so difficult to repent as we pause to think of what our sins have cost God. It was for our sins that God, the Creator and King of this universe, left His home in heaven and came to earth in the Person of the Lord Jesus to suffer and bleed and die -- that we might be forgiven. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us" (1 John 3:16). Then Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death.
We must receive Christ into our hearts and lives as our Savior. We read in the first chapter of John, speaking of the Lord Jesus, "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own receive d Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:10-12).
The moment we open our hearts to the Lord Jesus and place our complete trust in Him -- and Him alone -- as our Savior, God promises to forgive our sins, save our soul, and reserve for us a home in heaven. Then, on the authority of the Word of God, we can know where we will spend eternity. God says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). And Jesus promises, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
Now, are you willing to settle the matter of your eternal destiny? Will you do it? You can right this moment and I sincerely hope that you will. If you desire to invite Jesus Christ into your life so that you can have an assurance of being in heaven w ith Him eternally, pray this following prayer to God believing that He hears you:

Heavenly Father, I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin. I acknowledge my sin and ask you to forgive me. I now invite Jesus into my heart to forgive me and cleanse me. I want to spend eternity with Jesus. I trust you complet ely as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I might live for you. I receive your gift of eternal life Jesus. Thank you. In your name I pray. Amen.

Reprinted with Permission of the American Tract Society.