How does one keep the belief to go to heaven one day?

[Alive]

I am going through a faith crisis..I am currently doubting if there's a God or we are just simple matter that will rotten under the land after death..Does anybody read any book or some kind of thing that can affirm a person's faith that we are just not bugs...
To me it doesn't make sense that an animal wouldn't go to heaven cuz he's a creature too..

I am just wondering, what if when i die, i simply stay down under and rotten..

I know none of us knows, but i am going through this dilemma<<<...

Also something that makes me worry is the fact that we might not meet in the same place when it's our time...I am just worried if i have been a fool and believed after death there's anything....

I sure do hope God exists.

[toad]

"Does anybody read any book or some kind of thing that can affirm a person's faith that we are just not bugs..."

The Bible

[St_Kurt]

Originally Posted by karimpatim

I am just wondering, what if when i die, i simply stay down under and rotten...

You might. We all might.

However, isn't it much better to have faith that we won't and thus carry out our lives accordingly?

~SK

[Afraid2Succeed]

For me:
One thing is certain - we will decompose and rot away.

Whether we life afterwards is a leap of faith.

[rubycanoe]

it is okay to doubt sometimes, but dont deny Christ. sometimes we question things, and doubt , when things are really hard, but just pray to Jesus ,and give up your will to him, and He will show you the way. it is the narrow path, not the wide road, and we couldnt do it by ourselves, but we can do it with Christ, and others to help us along the way, God Bless

[Introvrtd1]

I have no doubt in my mind God exists.

John 3:16

[best]

Originally Posted by karimpatim

I am just worried if i have been a fool and believed after death there's anything....

I sure do hope God exists.

From my experiences...

My life sure has changed since I started accepting and believing in the Lord.
A time in heaven? I am being so blessed right now that I don't worry about what tomorrow will bring.
Now as for none of us know? I can only find one reason why my life has changed so much... There is a God and He loves me so much that He fills me with blessings every day.
As for worry about being a fool for believing? Wouldn't it be more foolish to reverse that?
What if there is a heaven and you don't accept that fact and get there to find out you were wrong? If no heaven, nothing changes...we all become worm food, if heaven... it would be better to be accepting of such before we find it to late to do anything about it.

As for doubt... That is a trust issue and we all need take that first step out in faith and give God a try. Accept and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and that He will do as He says. He has done so up to this point and I don't see any reason why He would change now.

"I go and prepare a place for you. If it were not so, I would tell you."

So we accept Jesus at His word or we don't. Either He tells us the truth or He lies.
From all that He has done in my life and continues to do... I know His word to be trustworthy and true. Jesus has proven Himself to me and all it took was my stepping out in faith as I sat down and read His word(the bible) and accepted it as His truth and gift to mankind.

[rayofsunshine]

Here's an answer to a life after death question from Billy Grahams website that may help you ...

I am convinced there is life after death for one reason: Jesus Christ died and was placed in a tomb—and two days later came back to life.

Think about it a moment: What would it take to prove to us that there is life after death? The answer is clear: Someone would have to die, and then come back to life again. It wouldn't be enough for them to have a so-called "near-death" experience; their death would have to be real. And it wouldn't be enough for only one or two people to see them; it would require many witnesses.

But has this ever happened? Yes—when Jesus Christ rose from the grave! His death was real; hard-bitten Roman guards made sure He was dead before they took Him down from the cross. And His resurrection was real also, because hundreds saw Him during the next forty days. Paul, writing over 25 years later, noted that "he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living" (1 Corinthians 15:6).

How could this happen? It happened because Jesus Christ was not just another man. He was God's only Son, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. Only He could say, "I am the resurrection and the life. ... Whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26). This can be your hope, by giving your life to Christ today.

[Alive]

Thank you for your answers..I have been so down that i doubted i had started this thread..i woke up today and wasn't sure whether i had dreamed it or done it..I've always been a real believer since a little child..i used to look at the sky, as a child, and talk to God...I guess where i am right now, only God can enter and save me...

thanks

[dave47]

i think God exists and is always there for us.I believe we are here to learn lifes lessons,love,hate,happiness,sadness,greed,generosi ty etc..
I believe this is all part a grand plan otherwise there wouldn't be any reason to be here.I can't possibly comprehend nothing.

[sugarssweetpea]

Sometimes when I have doubts I think back on my life & think about things that just do not make any sense EXCEPT for God being real. Things that I feel, the peace I had when my two month son was in the hospital, the answered prayers, the unanswered prayers (only to find out later that they would have ended badly if answered), the strength to stay away from drugs and alcohol, the way that EVERY TIME I am feeling down about something or am struggling with something, either someone tells me something that encourages me (without even knowing that I am struggling) or I read something in the Bible or another devotional book that is EXACTLY what I am going through. When I get done reflecting on everything that IS of God, I cannot see ANYTHING that is not of God. It becomes easier to believe in Him than not to.

[sugarssweetpea]

I would like to share one more thing if I may. My husband just came home & told me that last night in the evening service at our church, he silently prayed to rededicate his life to Jesus b/c he has felt far away from God lately & he asked God to take back control over the business we started last year & to take back control over all of his life. He asked God to show him what to do in every area. Today, a man called who he met a few weeks ago (he has not talked to him since) & said that he did not know why, he did not know my husband at all (other than the one meeting), but God had told him to call him. He ended up giving my husband all kinds of guidance (he has been in business for 15 years) and they talked for a long time. He answered all of the questions that my husband had.

That is the kind of thing that I am talking about. It could be nothing but God. There is no other explanation.

[cmc]

hello buddy,
I believe God is calling to your heart to seek after Him. When I am stirred up inside about anything, I usually find He has something to teach me.
He loves us and wants us to spend time in His presence and to seek out the truths found in the bible.
Having doubts is the only way I know of to become sure of something. Jesus said:"It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh doesn't give life. The words I told you are spirit, and they give life." (John 6:63)
The Gospel of John is a good place to start reading.
God bless you, karim!
hugs,
cmc

[mike_mass]

Hey,

If even Mother Theresa had doubts, I think we can all cut ourselves a little slack. Live today to its fullest and try to love. The rest will come.

[RecoveryClause]

I apologize for this being such a long response, but when I prayed that God would give me the answers I needed to post this, I wrote what He brought into my heart.
Am I a good person? I tend to think: "Yes, I think I'm a good person. I've never killed any body, or anything like that. I go to church sometimes, like baptism, and give to charity sometimes as well."

When I die, do I think I will go to heaven? I answered yes as nearly all people certainly don't want to go to hell, because I hate suffering, right. So, according to the Ten Commandments which my life is supposed to be based on: Have I ever told a lie? God and I know the answer, so I say yes, I have to be honest because God already knows the answer.

The next question is: Have I ever stolen anything? I have admitted to God about telling lies, if the commandment is broken, I have to be honest. I have, and my guess is you're no different. No matter how small it was right, I took something, hey, if only paper, a pen from work, even that is deemed stealing in God's eyes. Anything that is not mine and I took it without asking; well, that’s stealing.

The final question: Have I ever looked at someone lustfully, because Jesus says,
if I so much as look as someone lustfully I have already committed adultery in my heart. Again I have to answer yes in all honesty.

So let's see then: I have lied, stolen and committed adultery, or least broken one of these or any of the other seven commandments of God right?

So according to God's law: If God judges me by this standard on the day of judgment, am I going to be innocent or guilty? Answering honestly, I'm guilty, no different from anyone else.

But I think I’ll go to heaven? Why do I feel like that? Is it because I think God is good and he’ll overlook my sins? When I try that in a court of law, he judge says, ‘I am guilty. All the evidence is here. Do I anything to say before I pass sentence?’ I say, ‘Yes. I’d like to say I believe you’re a good man and you’ll overlook my crimes.’ The judge responds and says: ‘You’re right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of my goodness, I’m going to see that justice is done. Because of my goodness, I’m going to see that you are punished.’ ”

The very thing I hope will save me on the day of judgment, the goodness of God, will be the very thing that will condemns me. If God is good, He is going to punish my sins wherever they are found.

But I don't start all getting upset and worry just yet. For this is what I see before me. I am free to go to heaven, because somebody paid the penalty for me. Awesome isn’t it? He just walked into the court room, said 'Hold on stop.' Then He told the judge that although justice had to be carried out, He would like to step in the place of me. How do I feel? Do I deserve this, probably not, but I will be going to heaven.

When there was nothing I personally could do to come to God, He instead came to me. In fact, God loves me so much that, even while I am a sinner, Jesus Christ (God’s only son) died on a cruel and bloody cross for me. He did not die to make me happy, but He died that so when I stand before the Lord, I can stand there in confidence and assurance, clothed in the righteousness I have received from Jesus Christ. It’s as simple as this: I have broken God’s law, but my debt has been paid through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

This is actually in the Bible: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

What did Jesus say, who has been shown to have lived by historical fact and recorded in four gospels and later of course more letters, what did Jesus say to a Pharisee named Nicodemus? Jesus said, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, (The word translated "anew" here and in John 43) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

I've been where perhaps you find yourself now, all I'm trying to do is help you, like someone once helped me, to share in God's awesome plan. NO, it’s not religion, that's man made nonsense, it's faith. I share the truth with you. If you doubt it, research it. If you have discovered that you are a sinner, like me, and that no good works can save you, gain you eternal life, a place in heaven, only accepting Jesus will, and can do that. If you are not yet ready for the next step here, to become a born again Christian, that's cool, honest I understand, the stories I could tell you about rejecting God, or Jesus, or the awful things I've said in the past, before coming to Him.

First you need proof there is even a God out there right, and I so understand that, so what better place than to start with who created the world and universe right. If you are now ready for the most life changing experience ever and just find a quiet place and pray: Lord, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. Amen.”