Will I go to heaven when I die?
Yes! I will.
If you have a couple of minutes this Easter Sunday, I’d like to tell you about it.
1 Peter 3:15 says, “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”
Boy, do I ever have a reason for the hope that I have.
This story starts about 15 years ago when my first child was born, a son. He would be the first of 4 children I would deliver. He was born in Tampa, Florida. He was 4 weeks premature, and weighed 5.7 pounds when he left the hospital. As far as premature babies go, we had it easy. There was one major problem that no one knew was going to exist.
Apparently, my husband and I have incompatible blood types. Very incompatible. My son had my husband’s blood type. I have mine. Shortly after his birth there were all sorts of problems. Respiratory, infectious, reactions to being born from a mamma with the wrong blood (or was it Dad with the wrong blood?). I’m not sure what all the issues were. All I know is that my little guy was so sick because of the blood situation that he had to stay in the hospital for 5 days after he was born. Thankfully, he recovered and is a thriving (almost) 15 year old who won’t stop eating.
When we were expecting our second child, we approached things differently. I was sure to remind my doctor about the potential blood problem at every visit I had with him (which was about 98) and precautions were taken in case our baby girl happened to have the wrong blood type (my husband’s). At the hospital, before she appeared I was given all the necessary medications so the potential problems could be minimized and our baby girl could go home when we went home. She arrived, adorable, hairy and ……….. with my husbands blood-type. Ugh.
This time our baby didn’t have to stay in the hospital for 5 days, but she was visited by nurses in our home daily. She had to spend the majority of her first days in a plastic tanning bed (sun-theropy lamp). It took 3 days for her to recover from the transition inside me (wrong blood mommy) into her own independent life with Daddy’s blood-type.
2 1/2 years later baby number 3 was on her way! Oh Joy! Now, what are the chances our 3rd child would end up with my husbands blood type? Surely, the odds were in my favor. After 9 months of wondering – it was a rerun of the previous 2 episodes. She got my husbands blood too. Ugh. More nurses. Another miniature tanning bed. Another recovery from inside me (wrong blood mommy) to outside with Daddy’s blood type. Whew!
Along came number 4. Another son. Ho-ray! I was completely expecting him to have my blood type. I just found it hard to believe that 4 out of 4 children would have the exact same health struggles with our incompatible blood types. Still, the doctors took precautions. I was given the same medications to help our child adjust should he be born with the unthinkable blood type. I probably don’t need to finish the story, but I will.
Our 4th child also had my husbands blood type. That’s 4 out of 4. More nurses, more plastic tanning beds, more recovery, another baby sentenced to a sunlamp for his first 4 days of life. Poor little guy.
I am thankful for my 4 healthy children. They are all fine now and growing like weeds. Of all that could have gone wrong, the blood type issue is very minimal & I am grateful.
It wasn’t until a couple years later when I was listening to a Bible teacher talk about the blood of Jesus that I understood why all my children ended up with my husband’s dreaded blood-type.
Did you know that the blood of a baby is ALWAYS determined by the father? The Dad. The biological father. Always. WHAT!??!
Anyone who is pregnant, has been pregnant, or will be pregnant – that child will not get it’s blood-type from the mother. Ever. The blood comes from the father. Forever. Always. Never not.
If the mom and dad have the same blood type – then I suppose the baby could have the mother’s blood-type; but that is NOT because he got the mother’s blood – the blood is ALWAYS determined by the father.
This is why all 4 of my children have my husband’s blood-type!
If you are familiar with the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, you know that she was a virgin when she conceived Jesus.
HERE IS THE HUGE PART – If I am losing you, WAKE UP!
Just as my 4 children’s blood came from their father, so did Jesus’. Jesus did not get his blood from His mother (Mary). Jesus got his blood from His Father. Who was Jesus’ Father?
Here’s a hint: It was not Joseph.
So, who was Jesus’ Father?
It was GOD.
Jesus got his blood from God.
Jesus had God-blood.
This is what made Jesus’ blood so different. So powerful. So special. Why His blood being spilled was adequate payment for the price of the sins of the world. He had God-blood running through His veins. It wasn’t from Mary. It wasn’t from Joseph. It was from God.
It would be pretty hard to declare that I have ever been sin-free and didn’t need some help. I am a disaster, I say things I wish I didn’t say. I do things I wish I hadn’t done. I see good I should do and don’t do it. I am selfish. I am prideful. This is all sin.
There is nothing I can do that is good enough to make all my wrongs right. I can’t appease God. I can’t do enough good things to counteract the bad ones. I can’t save myself. I need a savior.
Praise God! He sent one for me (and you). His name is Jesus. He had God-blood in His veins. He lived a perfect life. He died in my (and your) place so we could be made right with God.
Someone has to pay for my sins. Either I will pay for my own sins (separated from God for eternity after I die), or I can except the free gift in Jesus. Either Jesus paid the price or I will. We won’t both pay for my sins.
Here is my life verse:
Here’s what it means.
This verse is the formula on how to go to heaven. This is the answer to life’s biggest question.
It says, to go to heaven we must do 2 things:
- Not work ——– “to him who does not work”
- Believe ———— “Believes on Him”
To go to heaven you must stop working and believe that Jesus died for your sins. That’s it. This is how you go to heaven.
I can’t attend church, teach Sunday school, give tithes, help the poor, or anything else in order to get myself in to heaven. The Bible calls these things, “works.” I can not work my way to heaven. All I have do is believe that Jesus died for me. I believe that His work on the cross paid the price for my sins. It is a free gift. No work necessary – just thank Him.
- I am either working or resting.
- I am either trying to please God or thanking Him for saving me.
- I am either trying to earn God’s favor or believing Jesus died for me.
- I am either trying to help Him save me by being a better person, or I am trusting in the finished work on the cross.
Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”
It’s not both. You can’t work and rest. You can’t trust Jesus died to save you, and try to earn grace.
I’m so thankful it’s paid in full. I’m grateful for the precious God-blood that was poured out for me.
Sending a hug,
Candi
