Faith Community Church by the Sea How to Get to Heaven   from Southern California

Southern California -- It is truly one of the best places to live. A recent poll of desirable places to live in the world listed this area as second only to the islands in the Mediterranean off the north eastern coast of Spain. Looking out over the Pacific Ocean, not too far from the mountains or the desert, with countless opportunities for recreation and outdoor activity, southern California has one of the finest climates in the world! But, there is at least one place that undoubtedly surpasses southern California, and that’s heaven! Heaven is a real place. That’s what Jesus taught. He said he came from heaven and would return to it. He told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. He made the prospects of going to heaven so very attractive that his disciples wanted to be sure they knew how to get there. "How can we know the way?" they asked. He told them plainly, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). What does it mean to come "through" Christ? His conversation with a very religious man named Nicodemus may help us understand it. Jesus said, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "The kingdom of God" in that context includes heaven, and Jesus said we must be born again to enter. When we were born the first time we received physical life from our parents, but we lacked spiritual life. The Bible teaches that we were, "...dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). And that includes all of us. "For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" (Rom. 3:23). Unfortunately our sin makes it impossible for us to enter heaven for God says, "there shall by no means enter it anything that is unclean" (Rev. 21:27). We all need a second birth which gives us spiritual life and cleanses us from the stain of sin. How are we going to get it? That’s where Jesus Christ God’s eternal Son, enters the picture. By voluntarily giving His life on the cross at Calvary, He paid the penalty which our sin deserves (1 Cor. 15:3,4). And now, with the penalty paid, he can offer us the gift of eternal life. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23) When a person puts his or her trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and receives Christ as Savior from the guilt and condemnation of sin, that person receives new life, spiritual life, eternal life! And they have the assurance that some day they will enter heaven. How do you get to heaven from southern California? The very same way that you get there from any other place on earth; by trusting Jesus Christ and receiving Him as you personal Savior from sin. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be called children of God, even to those who trust in His name" (John 1:12). God’s children will spend eternity with Him, in heaven. You can be born into His family right now. With sincerity of heart and genuine sorrow for your sin, pray something like this: "Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that you died for my sins. I here and now place my trust in You as my savior from sin. Come into my life, forgive my sins, make me Your child. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray." If you would like to talk with someone about this decision or would like more information about a new life in Jesus Christ, please call Faith Community Church, (760) 436-4479, or contact us at 680 Normandy Road, Encinitas, CA 92024.