God has made preparation for all those who will follow his commands to have an eternal home in heaven.
Man could not have salvation by any means he would determine. It took the mind of God to make a plan and ensure it was carried out. This plan required a perfect sacrifice be made to atone for sin. The giving of Jesus was the only sacrifice worthy of this task, as God willing gave his Son (John 3:16-17).
While on Earth, Jesus told of the place prepared for the faithful. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be, also” (John 14:1-3). Heaven waits, but man must desire to go and be willing to follow God’s commands if he is to ever enjoy what God has prepared.
Man’s preparation needs more than just believing in God; it requires obedience to God’s word. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things, which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9). “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things, which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).
James wrote of how the devils believe in God, yet they are not saved (James 2:19). There is more that man must do.
God did not leave man to find his own way. God, in his Word, has given examples of how to prepare.
In the book of Acts, the Gospel of Christ was preached to men. It tells of the sacrifice made by Christ for mankind — how he was crucified for the sins of all men and how he died, was buried and then arose from the grave, triumphant over death.
Paul reminded those at Corinth of this: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
We can make this same preparation today. If we have faith in Christ as the Son of God, turn from our sins, willingly confess his name among men, are baptized for the remission of our sins and live faithfully to God for all our lives, we will be able to go to heaven.
Let’s all work to that end.