Statistics say that 10 of 10 people die. It's true - we all have an appointment with death. A question each of us should be asking is "what happens after I die?" The Bible says that God has a standard He will judge you by on your appointed day of death. It's called the Ten Commandments.
Let's see how you might do. Have you ever told a lie, including white lies and fibs? Have you ever stolen anything, no matter the value? Have you ever used the Lord's name as a curse word to express disgust? That's blasphemy. Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said that if you even look upon another person with lust, you have committed adultery in your heart. On Judgement Day, if God were to judge you by those standards, would you be innocent or guilty? Would heaven be your destiny?
The Bible says that you would be guilty and that means eternal separation from God (hell). But know that God is rich in mercy, not wanting anyone to perish. He sent his son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross on your behalf, to take the punishment for your sins. God's wrath came down upon HIM instead of on YOU. Jesus paid your fine with his own blood. That means God can now dismiss your case and excuse your death sentence. He can allow you to live because of what Jesus did on the cross through His death and resurrection.
So what must you do? Jesus said that you must "repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). To repent means that you turn away from idols and place your trust in Christ. To believe the gospel means that you come to God on His terms, namely that Christ died on the cross for your sins and that through faith in Him you are saved.
Like any gift, salvation can be offered but it is not yours until you choose to accept it. Therefore, if you confess the following prayer and believe it in your heart to be true, then you accept God's offer for salvation and you have the assurance of eternal life in heaven when you die:
Dear Lord Jesus:
I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe you died for my sins, and rose from the dead.
I turn away from my sins and invite you to come into my heart and life.
I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
Amen
Please note that we are saved through God's grace alone and that this grace comes from our faith in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Good works are not a requirement for attaining salvation but are rather the fruits/evidence of our saving faith in Christ:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." (Ephesians 2:8-10).
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood."
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
"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. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son."
The Old Testament book of ISAIAH was written 729 years before the birth of Messiah (Jesus) and clearly prophesied God's plan for salvation and forgiveness of sins through His son:
"....He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
"If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved..... for everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
Recommended Reading:
"What is the Gospel?" by Greg Gilbert
"Heaven" by Randy Alcorn