Do you ever wonder if you will make it to Heaven? Do you consider your entrance into Heaven something of which you cannot be ultimately sure until you die? If so, then you need to understand that God has given us a deposit to guarantee our admission to God’s home.
Unlike a physical ticket or admission pass, God’s people receive an unbelievable gift as their guarantee for Heaven. The gift is a Person – the third Person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit. He is the proof positive that we have access to Heaven upon our exit of this world.
We read the glorious words of 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 in the New Living Translation, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”
Do you see that my insurance on a new, heavenly, undying, and sinless body is the Holy Spirit living in me? How much more proof could I possibly need, but to have God living in me moment by moment? Despite the struggles and strains of life, in my heart abides the Spirit of God, and He gives me a peace that goes past the turmoil and sadness of this life. He witnesses to my spirit that I do, in fact, belong to God and to Heaven.
Again, we read of the coming day of redemption, the time when we are fully redeemed (bought back) from brokenness and this old world. Listen to Ephesians 4:30 in the English Standard Version: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
The Holy Spirit actually provides the seal that declares that my entrance to Heaven is as good as done! For what more could I ask?
This Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. Jesus sent His own Spirit to live in His followers when He exited the world and ascended to Heaven. That precious Spirit is the guarantee that we also will exit this world and go to Heaven. Jesus paid for my salvation, and His Spirit witnesses to my salvation. Jesus is the way to Heaven, and His Spirit is the deposit I hold for that day. Until I am able to see Jesus, I have Him living in me by His Spirit.
– Shelli Prindle