How To Know Him

I have had so many people comment to me lately how they are inspired by Ashley's Story and by our family. Yes, Ashley has an incredible story, but there is a story I want to share with you that is even greater. There is a reason we can endure all that we have been through with our Ashley. There is a reason God has given us Ashley. I know without a doubt that God chose us to be Ashley's family for more than just our own hearts desires. I believe God has a bigger plan. I think God is usings Ashley's Story to help us boldly tell His story.

Do y0u know Him? DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE .....
........that you are going to be with God in heaven?

If God were to ask you,
" WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO MY HEAVEN "
what would you say?

Did you know that the Bible tells how you can KNOW FOR SURE that you have eternal life and will go to be with God in heaven?

"These things I have written to you ... that you may know that you have eternal life. " I John 5:13

Here's how you can KNOW FOR SURE...

1. HEAVEN (ETERNAL LIFE) IS A FREE GIFT.
The Bible says, ". . . the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23b)
And because heaven is a gift like any other genuine gift......
IT IS NOT EARNED or DESERVED
. Therefore, no amount of personal effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn a place in heaven for you.
"By grace you have been saved through faith, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES. it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. " Ephesians 2:8.9
WHY is it that no one can earn his way to heaven? Because ...

2. MAN IS A SINNER.
"AII have sinned and fall short of the glory, of God. " Romans 3:23
Sin is transgressing God's law and includes such things as lying, lust, cheating.
deceit, anger, evil thoughts. immoral behavior, and more.
And because of this .....
MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF.
If you wanted to save yourself by good deeds, do you know how good you would have to be? The Bible says you would have to be perfect. "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. " Matthew 5:48
With such a high standard, no one can save himself for God also says,
"Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10
In spite of our sin, however ...

3. GOD IS MERCIFUL,
and therefore DOESN'T WANT TO PUNISH US.
This is because ... "God is love. . . " I John 4:8b and He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3b But the same Bible that tells us that God loves us also tells us that . . .
GOD IS JUST, and therefore MUST PUNISH SIN.
He says ... "I will by no means clear the guilty" Exodus 34:7b "The soul who sins shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
We have a problem; we have all sinned. The penalty for sin is death.
We need forgiveness so that we can have a right relationship with God.
God solved this problem for us in the Person of ...


4. JESUS CHRIST
Who exactly would you say Jesus Christ is? The Bible tells us clearly that He is the infinite GOD-MAN. "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) ... and the Word (Jesus) was with God ... and the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us. . ." John 1:1,14 Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a sinless life, but while on earth ...
WHAT DID HE DO? He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the grave to purchase a place for us in heaven. "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, every, one, to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6 God hates our sins but because of His love for us, He has placed them allon His Son. Christ bore our sin in His body on the cross. Now Jesus Christ offers you eternal life (heaven) as a free gift.
This gift is received by ...

5. FAITH
Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven. Many people mistake two things for saving faith:
1. Mere INTELLECTUAL ASSENT, that is, believing certain historical facts. The Bible says the devil believes in God, so believing in God is not saving faith.
2. Mere TEMPORAL FAITH, that is, trusting God for temporary crises such as financial, family, or physical needs.
Now these are good, and you should trust Christ for these, but they are not saving faith!
SAVING FAITH is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. It means resting upon Christ alone and what He has done rather than upon what you or I have done to get us into heaven.
"Believe (trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. . . " Acts 16:31a
Faith is like the hand of a beggar receiving the gift of a King. We don't deserve the gift of eternal life.
But we can have it, if we will receive it by faith.
You have just read the greatest story ever told about the greatest offerever made by the greatest Person who ever lived - Jesus Christ.
The question that God is asking you now is ...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE? Because this is such an important matter ... LET'S CLARIFY just what this involves. It means, first of all, that you TRANSFER YOUR TRUST from what you have been doing to what Christ has done for you on the cross.
It means, next, that you RECEIVE THE RESURRECTED, LIVING CHRIST into your life as SAVIOR. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock [at the door of your life]. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. " Revelation 3:20
It means further that you RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE AS LORD . He comes as Master and King. There is a throne room in your heart, and that throne is rightly His. He made you. He bought you and He wants to take His rightful place on the throne of your life. It means, finally, that you REPENT OF YOUR SINS. That means that you are willing to turn from anything you have been doing that is not pleasing to Him and to follow Him as He reveals His will to you in His Word.
Now, if this is what you really want ...
YOU CAN G0 TO GOD IN PRAYER right where you are. You can receive His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ right now.