“If I were to say to you—I am absolutely, positively, guaranteed sure, no doubt about it, that when this life is over I am going to be with God in heaven forever—what would you say to that?”

“How can you, how can anyone be so sure?”

“Tell me, what makes you say that?”

“What makes you sure there even is a heaven, or for that matter, a hell? And how can you or anyone be so sure of going to heaven?”

It’s all because of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came into this world and lived a perfect life, something God expected of you, me, and everyone.

He says, “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

Not a one of us has measured up to God’s expectations. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But, Jesus Christ did measure up and he did it for me, for you, for everyone, as our substitute. He did what we couldn’t do in trying to live a perfect life. And God accepts what Jesus did—for us.

The evidence of this is discovered in his sufferings, death, and resurrection. On the cross Jesus endured the punishment for the sins of the whole world, the innocent for the guilty—that means you and me. “Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). And God accepted the sufferings and death of Jesus as payment in full for all our sins and wrongdoings.

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is God’s declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, the way to eternal life. “Jesus Christ our Lord was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:5).

Though we all must die because we are sinners, trusting in Jesus as our Savior, we will live again in heaven and rise again to eternal life. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me though he dies yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

This is what I believe. This is my certain hope—all because of Jesus Christ.  And it can be yours too, through faith in Jesus.