How Do I Know I Am Going to Heaven When I Die?
3 ways to ensure you are saved
When I was working as a youth pastor back in the day, one of the most frequently asked questions from the youth was this:
‘How do you know that I am saved?’
AKA, ‘How do I know that I am going to heaven?’
Today, let’s discuss this seemingly fundamental question, which is not openly being discussed as often as it should be; ‘How do you know I am saved?’
As you can expect, there is a reason why we, as Christians, are quite careful about discussing this question.
Historically, it has been one of the biggest causes of conflicts between so-called believers in churches. Moreover, this is quite a sensitive and personal matter to present some sort of standards about who will go to heaven and who will not.
Throughout the discussion, I will try to be as careful as I can be as I openly discuss this question. That being said, the purpose of this article is not to divide or categorize, but rather to invite readers to ponder their current standing on this question with sincerity and humility before God.
By any means, the notion in this article cannot be used to categorize other people in a way that judges or criticizes them. Instead, it’s about having honest and humble moments to discern oneself in the hope of Jesus Christ.
I hope this discussion can bring some degree of clarity on how to approach such a question and prepare us more appropriately.
1. Two Opposite Ends of the Spectrum
Christians should not choose to live a life of faith solely to enter heaven.
Yet, without certainty of meeting Jesus Christ face-to-face after this life in our destination, what is the significance of doing everything we do in this world?
Furthermore, how can we, as Christians, remain steadfast and unshaken when confronted with temptation and adversity in the absence of such certainty?
I have encountered these two arguments at opposite ends of the spectrum with which I don’t fully agree.
One argument is that ‘we can’t be sure whether we enter heaven or not, and we should not seek certainty because it’s all in God’s hands; He will decide in the end. It’s not up to us, so it’s not appropriate to discuss that.’
Another argument is that ‘I am certain that I am going to heaven, so I can do whatever I want because I am already chosen.’
Now let me explain why I don’t agree with those two arguments.
Answer for the first argument
As one of the most important aspects of Christianity is having an intimate relationship with God, the first argument seems to be to stand at some distance from God.
God will indeed decide, and it’s not up to us to have a say in His decision. However, it’s our right and privilege to seek His thoughts, desires and answers to our questions.
It doesn’t mean that we can have answers to everything we ask God.
But it’s more about the process that matters throughout our journey, and what’s important is having as close a relationship with God as possible, which God also seeks from us more than anything.
If we can’t be sure we enter heaven or not, if we can’t be sure whether where we stand is firm, genuine trust between God and us cannot be established.
Answer for the second argument
As for the second argument, there is a contradiction of logic within the argument itself.
In Christianity, being certain that I am going to heaven means I am certain that I choose to follow Jesus for the rest of my life. Then, how can someone do whatever they want and go in any direction they please while simultaneously choosing to walk on the one-way path to which Jesus leads?
It’s a dangerous thought to regard oneself as privileged and yet disregard other people’s interests.
2. He who loved us first
I was raised under Christian influence, yet I witnessed the broken, ugly side of the church, which did not reflect the truth of Jesus.
In my youth, experiencing these contradictions stirred a rebellious tendency within me.
Later, I realized that I held yet another selfish view by criticizing the contradictions in others, believing I was pursuing justice and truth.
This realization prompted me to seek genuine salvation.
During my university years, on one prayerful night, I knelt and sought God’s revelation or some form of assistance to navigate my way out of the cycle of sin and regret. I felt trapped within myself, grappling with the painful state of my own contradictions.
I ended up confronting the ugliness within myself, and tears flowed as I began to repent.
After the prayer, it was the first time I felt true comfort as if I finally once got to sit on the most comfortable chair resting.
I have never felt more certain of the nuance of this sentence even though I have been hearing this from many many sermons that I have heard.
The most significant sentence that changed me completely was; “God loves me.”
I felt as if I was hearing this from God Himself.
One of the most certain ways of ensuring that you are saved is to see the truth resides in your heart that you love God so much, more than anything. If you love God then it means God loves you first.
There is no humanly possible way in which we can initiate loving God moreover loving our neighbour before God first puts His love in us.
We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)
He comes to His people, ignites His love, and leads us to His good plan when we are still sinners. We don’t deserve it, but He initiates salvation.
3. Believing is a choice
When children are adopted, one of the challenges they usually face is accepting the fact that they are now the children of their new parents. Legally, these children become sons and daughters, but the transition in their hearts doesn’t happen immediately as it should.
This isn’t to imply that parents who adopt love their biological children more.
It depends on each situation in each family. But even if the parents love them equally, whether they are biological or adopted, it takes time for adopted children to embrace the belief that they are now the sons and daughters of their parents.
With that being said, when someone asks, ‘How do you know you are saved?’ the answer would be that you sometimes have to believe that you are, based on what’s written in the Bible.
John 3:16 from the Bible (New International Version) says:
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.
4. Through relationship
One day, when I asked my boys, “Why do you love me?” they gave me this puzzled look as if they were thinking, ‘What kind of question is that?’ Then they said, “Because… you are my dad,” with a tone that suggests they couldn’t find a better answer.
And I thought to myself, ‘That was the right answer indeed.’
After all, I’ve been with them for quite a while. They’ve spent their whole lives with me, so it would be natural for them to infer that I love them.
Similarly, how do we know that God loves us or we are adopted sons of God through Jesus? It must be through a close relationship with God, through Jesus.
Then some might ask, ‘How do you have a relationship with someone who’s not physically here?’
To be frank, having a relationship with God certainly has its challenges. God has a tendency not to answer immediately; sometimes He does, but most of the time, you have to wait.
God speaks with a voice to some people, but usually, God whispers to one’s mind through thoughts and inspiration. Sometimes God shows up in one’s dream and speaks, but He usually communicates with His people through what’s written in the Bible.
Sometimes it might feel like God has left or is not working in my life. But He answers my prayers and comforts my heart with His love through worship, leading me through the scriptures.
Having a relationship with God is certainly one of the biggest mysteries. But just like any relationship, you have to take one step at a time to unveil the mystery.
However, if I have to share one certainty, it’s that God wants to have a close relationship with us, with you, more than anything in the world.
