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You become a follower of Jesus Christ based solely on your personal relationship with Him.

You are not born into Christianity nor do you go automatically to heaven because of your family’s religious beliefs. You cannot go to heaven because you were born in a nation that considers itself to be “Christian.” You cannot go to heaven because you consider yourself to be a “good” person. The only way to heaven is for you to be in right relationship with Jesus Christ.

God gives each individual a free will. We decided if we will follow God or if we will follow someone else or another philosophy. Since we each have a free will, we will each be responsible for the consequences of our actions. We can please God by obeying Him and loving others. We know that we will go to heaven. If we choose not to please God and are unwilling to love others then we will not go to heaven.

The book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament portion of the Bible we read the following: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16, NIV).

In Ezekiel, also in the Old Testament, expands this thought. We learn that a righteous person can live a life that honors God. But if the child of that person commits sins against God then the parent’s righteousness will not save the child. Each one is accountable for actions before God. In the same way, if the parent was unrighteous and dishonored God but the child was righteous then the child will be saved. Again, each one is accountable before God. You can read this in Ezekiel chapter eighteen.

God wants to be in a person relationship with you. While your family, your education, your friends, and your nationality may influence you positively or negatively, it is your personal relationship with God that decides if you are a believer.

Jesus is your salvation while you are on this earth.

You are freed from living a self-indulgent life, hatred, being tossed by circumstances like the waves in the ocean, anxieties, depression, fear, and life-controlling issues.

When you dedicate your life to Jesus Christ you become a new creation. You live now by the rules detailed in the Bible rather than by the rules of your culture, religion, or family of origin. For example, you will learn the freedom that forgiveness brings! You are no longer bound by holding grudges, seeking revenge, hatred, anxiety, and fear. You can ask Jesus to forgive your offender and you allow Jesus to deal with the issue and balance the scales of justice. This will free you from a heavy weight and replace this burden with peace and even joy.

When you face issues in life, you will realize that Jesus will journey with you. When you pattern your life after His example and His teachings, you will find true freedom. You will discover how to deal with life in a righteous manner and in a way that honors God.

You are freed from what this world can offer because Jesus taught us that this earth is not our home. When we die, we know that our faith in Jesus Christ will allow us to be with God in heaven for eternity. Our eternal home is heaven. Our time on this earth is temporary.

When we understand that heaven is our home, we realize that the best action and behavior that we can do is to live a life that honors Christ. We love God and we love others. We learned that we can be content in all circumstances. We can be content in financial wealth or in financial poverty. We can be content in seasons of ill health and in season of good health. The reason is that our happiness, our true joy, is not reliant on the circumstances around us but is determined by aligning our heart with Jesus.

The Bible teaches that the rains will fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.

In other words, “good” people will experience “bad” events in life. Jesus never promised that His followers would not experience suffering or persecution. In fact, He said that His followers must expect to encounter suffering and persecution. Yet, at the same time, He promised that He will be with us always and that He will empower us to navigate the storms of life and survive in victory.

People who follow Jesus wholeheartedly are not exempt from suffering. While we are on earth, we are subject to the laws of this world. But, believers in Jesus do not need to live life alone. They have the Bible as God’s Word to guide, teach, and inspire them. They have the church, the community of faith, that is filled with other believers who love God. They will encourage one another and support each other in God’s love. Also, believers have a relationship with God the Holy Spirit who brings comfort, and empowers them to share their faith with others. So, in times of suffering, believers can turn to Jesus, the Bible, the church, and the Holy Spirit to enable and empower them to deal with the suffering on this earth.

While believers can suffer to the point even of death, they know that their time on this earth is temporary. When people die, they will face the consequences of their actions. Those who love and follow Jesus will go to heaven. Those who do not love and follow Jesus will not go to heaven.

The true story of a man named Job is found in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. He was a righteous man who loved God and lived well. Suddenly, tragic struck and tore apart his family, his wealth, and his entire life! Yet, in the midst of his suffering, Job believed in God. He did not allow the circumstances of life take him away from loving God. As a result, Job survived the season of suffering and God blessed him.