YOU CAN GET THERE FROM HERE

Perhaps you have heard someone, when asked for directions, say, “You can’t get there from here.” Of course, the statement is not meant literally. The person is saying that the destination desired cannot be reached by a simple, direct route. There may be many turns, crooked curvy roads, or other difficulties. Considering our salvation, you can get there from here. I am not saying living a Christian life is easy, but the directions and instructions are simple, readily available, and easy to understand and follow.

In regards to our initial salvation from sin, the Bible gives clear instructions. In Ephesians 1:3 we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Paul says every spiritual blessing is in Christ. That would certainly include forgiveness from our sins. If we want to reach the destination of salvation, we must enter Christ. How do we enter Christ? Again, the Scriptures give the answer. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). The Bible says we are baptized into Christ. That baptism is based on hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17), believing in Jesus (John 8:24), repenting of sin (Acts 17:30), and orally confessing your faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). That is it. If you will do these things, you are in Christ, you are forgiven, you are saved.

That is not all there is to salvation, however. Once you have obeyed the previous commands, you must live the Christian life. Do you realize over half of the New Testament is primarily written to Christians instructing them on living a Christian life. It is not an easy task, but the instructions are straightforward (Romans 12; Galatians 5:21-22; Ephesians 4:25-32; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 John 1:5-10). These passages, and many others, will instruct us in living the Christian life in such a way that we can remain a faithful member of the body of Christ.

All of this leads us to our final destination, heaven. In John 14:2-3, Jesus says that he is going to prepare a place for us and that He will come again and receive us into that place. It has been said that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. You will not enter heaven by accident. It will take much effort, diligence, and patience, but you can get there from here. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
--Lamar