"If I Really Want to Go to Heaven, I Must..."
I MUST BELIEVE IN GOD!
" And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. " (Hebrews 11:6).
1) First, we must believe that God is, that he exists. -- The universe is one of the best sources of evidence in proof of such. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. " (Romans 1:20).
Two broad solutions are offered for the origin of our universe: naturalism/materialism [usually identified as evolution] and creationism. In the previous verse, creationism is specified as the correct answer [see also: Genesis 1:l; Exodus 20:11; Psalms 19:1-3; 33:6-9; Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 27:5].
By a study of the universe and a logical search for its origin, you and I can know that God exists, that he is powerful and that he is divine. Without this intellectual acceptance, it is impossible to please him.
2) Second, we must believe that God is a rewarder of those who seek after him. -- Where is he? Who is he? What is he like? What does he want? Without some kind of revelation, we have no answer (1 Corinthians 2:10).
That's where the Bible comes in. For "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). By humbly accepting "the word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1:21), we learn about God and the life he requires of us.
Now, let's assume that you and I both accept the existence of a divine being based on the existence, the size and the intricate design of our universe.
Let' s also assume that we accept the Bible as his divinely inspired revelation.
That being true, let's turn to his revelation to see why we have to seek him and what we must do to have a relationship with him. Let's turn to the Bible to see what we must do if we really want to go to heaven and live with him.
