An interview question that is often asked is, “Where would you like to be in five years if we hired you today?” The question is designed to make people think about the future in a long-term sense. In a spiritual sense where do you see yourself in 100 years from today? Do you have faith to believe? In one hundred years you will have died. Where will you spend eternity, heaven or hell?
Why would the Lord let you into heaven? The answer to that question is: We must have faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior to go to heaven. Jesus tells us in John 3:16.” “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” [1]
A Miracle to Build Faith to Believe
There is nothing that you will do in your entire life that is more important than securing your eternity in heaven by placing your faith in Jesus. In our story Lazarus had died, but Jesus was going to raise him from the dead for the very purpose of helping people believe.
John 11:39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” [2]
Faith in Jesus Pleases God
Note the word believe in verse 42. While the crowd waited beside the tomb—with the stone now rolled away from its entrance—Jesus praised his Father aloud, publicly, so that, in witnessing the miracle of resurrection, the people might believe in Jesus. His prayer was not a petition, but a prayer of thanks to the Father. Jesus knew that his request would be answered.[3]
Faith in Jesus as our Savior pleases God more than anything else. Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [4]
Prayer
Lord, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. and that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. Help me to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”[5]
To hear more about Lazarus and his encounter with Jesus listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-lazarus
[1,2,4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Barton, B. B. (1993). John (pp. 236–237). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[5] https://peacewithgod.net/what-do-i-have-to-do-to-go-to-heaven/