So many times in life we set our focus on something that we think is the end, just to find out it is just… the beginning.

Think of the runner who trains for a marathon.

For months they constantly increase their stamina by running a little bit further and further in hopes completing in what lies ahead.  

Then the day comes, they have done all they were able to do in their own strength to be ready.  

The starters gun fires and they are off. 

As the runner passes the 15 mile mark, they feel fine, confident that what they have done on their own strength would see them to the finish line. At 23 mile mark with 1.6 miles to go the they see that the last leg of the race is all up hill. 

They faint at the sight… for they sought to finish the race on their own merit; and our own merit is never good enough.  

Such is the hope of heaven, our own merit is never good enough. 

God for-knew this when He laid out the foundations of the Earth, when He told the seas where to stop and when He created us in His own image. He knew Adam and Eve would eat of the tree of knowledge and knew though that one act, that all who followed would be born into sin. 

For sin is anything that separates us God. 

The apostle Paul reminds us of this in the book of Romans were He is inspired by God to write,” all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory (Romans 3:23). 

James writes as well,” For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). And Paul reminds us in 

Ephesians that is from Psalm 14:3, taken from the Old Testiment. 

Paul continues,” But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

As Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus,” But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus(Ephesians 2:4-7)

He paid the debt for all our sin on the cross at Calvary. A debt no one could ever cover.  

The free gift of the forgiveness of sin, bought by the sinless life of God’s Son Jesus Christ… the Lamb of God. 

As Jesus so clearly puts it,” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

You can live with God in heaven forever!

But how you ask?

Paul tells us straight out,”because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)

A simple prayer said in faith seals heaven and eternity for you,” father I know that I am a sinner and I have fallen of Your glory.  I know that your Son purchased me on the Cross and defeated death when he rose from the grave.  I accept Jesus as my savior.”

Heaven rejoices when that prayer was said. 

I leave you with this from the Apostle Paul,” I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2Timothy 4:7-8)

To God be Glory forever and ever. Amen