Answers

By   •   September 24, 2007   •   Topics:

Q:

I've never been religious, but a few weeks ago my aunt died and her nephew gave me a sealed letter from her to be opened after her death. In it, she told me she had prayed for me all my life, and she hopes she'll see me in heaven. How can I be sure I'll go there? I've never thought about this before.


A:

Your aunt must have been a remarkable woman—and one who clearly loved both you and God very much. What legacy will you leave to your family and friends once you have gone? Will they remember you for your love—not just for them but for Christ? I pray it will be, just as it was for your aunt.

Have you taken time to ask yourself why she wrote it? The reason, I’m sure, is because she knew you had ignored God—and that your life was incomplete as a result. You see, God made you; you are not here by accident. He made you and put you on this earth for a purpose, and life’s greatest joy comes when we discover His purpose for our lives and begin to follow it.

But what keeps us from God? What keeps us from following His purpose? The Bible gives us the answer in one word: sin. We sin not only when we do wrong, but when we choose to leave God out of our lives. This is why our greatest need is to have our sins forgiven, for only then can we be reconciled to God.

And this is possible—because God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take all our sins upon Himself. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Turn to Christ and ask Him to come into your life and take away your sins—and He will. Then you will have the same hope your aunt did.