Today, a lot of people are talking about Heaven.

Millions upon millions of people are searching for songs, videos, stories, and testimonies about Heaven. People want to know: Is Heaven real? What is it like? And how do I get there?

Well, let me tell you something very clearly.

There is only one way to Heaven—and that is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus talked about Heaven. He also warned about hell. But today I don’t simply want to talk about Heaven. I want to talk about the way to Heaven.

And that way is Jesus.

Stop for just a moment. Let’s think about what this means and doesn’t mean. Heaven isn’t just about Jesus. Going to Heaven doesn’t ‘include’ Jesus. Jesus IS the way to Heaven. According to my Bible…Jesus is the only way to assure you are going to Heaven.

But here’s something I think even we Christians sometimes need to stop and think about:

Jesus Christ is alive.

He isn’t merely a religious figure who lived and died 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ is alive today.

When the women came to the tomb that resurrection morning, they received the greatest news the world has ever heard:

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.”
—Matthew 28:6

Jesus had been crucified. He had died. He was buried.

But on the third day, He rose from the dead.

There is tremendous evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the resurrection isn’t some small part of Christianity.

It is at the very heart of the Christian message.

The Apostle Paul made this extraordinarily clear:

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
—1 Corinthians 15:17

Think about that.

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then my hope of Heaven collapses. Our faith is meaningless. Our preaching is pointless. We are still in our sins.

But Jesus DID rise from the dead!

And because He is alive, He can change your life today.

Now, does that mean everything suddenly becomes easy when you become a Christian?

No.

But there is more joy. There’s purpose. There’s meaning.

But easy?

No.

When you truly make Jesus Christ Lord of your life, you discover very quickly that you’re no longer simply moving along with the current of this world.

You’re going in a different direction.

And there is spiritual opposition.

The Bible says:

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
—Ephesians 6:11

Why would God tell us to put on spiritual armor if there were no spiritual battle?

There is a battle.

And God has given us what we need to prevail.

That’s why you and I need to root everything in the Word of God. God’s Word reveals God’s will. We also need to pray. And we need the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, He said:

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
—John 3:3

You must be born again.

And once you are born again, you cannot afford to live as though Jesus Christ were still dead.

He’s alive.

And because He’s alive, you’re not facing your problems alone.

Do you feel alone today?

Do you feel separated from God?

Do you wonder why God seems far away?

The Bible gives us a remarkable promise:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
—James 4:8

I’ve met people who want to feel close to God, but they’re waiting for God to make the first move.

They’re waiting and waiting.

But God has already made the first move.

He sent Jesus.

Jesus showed us how to live in this fallen world. He lived without sin. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He calmed the storms. He forgave sinners. He delivered people from bondage. He died on the cross for our sins.

And then He rose from the dead.

He is alive today.

And if we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us.

The Bible says:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
—2 Corinthians 5:17

I’ve seen that happen.

This isn’t merely theology to me. I’ve watched Jesus Christ change lives that seemed impossible to change.

Several years back, I was personally acquainted with a convicted murderer named Stephen Morin. I spoke with Stephen a couple of times. We prayed together and wrote to each other often. At the end of his life, I was present, only feet away when he was executed in Texas in 1985.

Stephen had committed terrible crimes. There is no reason to minimize them. There were victims and grieving families whose lives could never be made the same again.

But there is another part of Stephen’s story that I believe is important.

Before his arrest, Stephen encountered a Christian woman named Ruth.

According to the account Stephen personally shared with me, he intended to harm her.

But Ruth wasn’t intimidated into silence.

She told him, in essence, “I’m God’s property. Jesus Christ is my Lord. You are going to listen to what I have to tell you.”

And then this woman told a serial killer about Jesus. And she shared the gospel message with Stephen.

She told him about Christ’s sinless life. She told him about His love, His authority, His death on the cross, and His resurrection.

She explained the Gospel.

She told Stephen that Jesus had died for sinners—including him.

She told him that regardless of what he had done, Jesus Christ was willing to forgive him if he would surrender his life to Him.

And Stephen prayed with her—repenting and surrendering to Jesus.

Later, Stephen described that moment to me personally with tears in his eyes.

He told me that something had changed inside him. He described it as though something like a vice that had held his mind in bondage had suddenly released and been removed.

For the first time, he said, he felt free.

After this change, Stephen turned himself in. He was arrested, convicted, sentenced to death, and executed.

I was watching from outside the execution chamber that day, and a minister friend of mine was inside as a witness.

Before Stephen died, he addressed the families affected by his crimes. He expressed sorrow for what he had done and acknowledged that nothing he could say could bring their loved ones back.

But he also testified that Jesus Christ had changed his life. Stephen shared that he had become born again.

That does not erase his crimes.

It does not erase the suffering of his victims.

But it demonstrates something astonishing about the Gospel: no human being is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.

That’s the Jesus I’m talking about today.

Maybe you’re going through a trial.

Maybe you’re under tremendous pressure.

Maybe you’re being tempted.

Maybe you’re discouraged and wondering how you’re going to make it through what you’re facing.

Remember this:

Jesus is not a dead religious leader.

When you place your life in the hands of Jesus Christ, you’re placing your life into the hands of a loving and living Savior.

The Jesus who rose from the grave is still able to save.

He’s able to deliver.

He’s able to strengthen. He will give you power you never thought was possible.

And He’s able to change the human heart.

If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, give Him your life today.

And for those of you who are already born again and Heaven-bound, but you’re tired, discouraged, or feeling distant from God:

Draw close to Him again.

Maybe put the telephone away.

Turn off the computer.

Walk away from the entertainment for a while.

Maybe give up a meal and spend that time with the Lord.

Open your Bible.

Pray.

Listen.

Worship.

Draw near to Him.

Because God has promised that when you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.

Jesus said:

“Because I live, you will live also.”
—John 14:19

And the Bible says:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
—John 3:17

Jesus Christ is alive.

And because He lives, there is hope for you.

There is forgiveness.

There is purpose.

There is strength.

There is eternal life.

And no matter what this world tells you, never forget:

Jesus Christ is THE only way to Heaven.