They try many ways to get to heaven by doing good deeds – giving to charity, volunteering, helping the needy, etc. They want to earn their way to heaven. They hope that their good deeds will cancel out their sins and so God will somehow allow them into heaven.

Others try to do all kinds of self-denials – fasting and praying, giving up many things, and even hurting themselves. They think that God will be pleased with their devotion and will not consider their sins. Many of these things may be good in themselves, but they will never remove our mountain of sins and make us fit for heaven. God is pure and holy. He cannot allow anything unclean or impure to enter heaven. King David, a great king in the Bible, prayed to God, “Wash me and I shall be whiter snow.”

Praise God, the blood the Lord Jesus shed on the cross for my sins has washed away the dark stain of sin from my heart! Now I am clean and white and pure because of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice! God will welcome me in heaven! No one can work at going to heaven. God gives eternal life as a FREE GIFT! I am singing because I know for sure that my sins are forgiven and I am on my way to my heavenly home!

The Bible tells us: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” Is your heart singing also, my friend? Even if we don’t ever meet here on earth, I look forward to the day when we will meet in our Father’s house! 

Prayer: “Thank You, Father God, for Your priceless gift of eternal life in heaven with You and the Lord Jesus.”

 “Heaven is a wonderful place. 

  Filled with glory and grace. 

  I want to see my Savior’s face. 

  Heaven is a beautiful place!”

Heaven is a place filled with the glory of God.  It is a place of splendor and beauty!  Heaven is a glorious place because God lives there. The Lord Jesus called it “My Father’s house”.  We as, God’s children, are going to be in our Heavenly Father’s house with Him and Lord Jesus. This will be joy we cannot imagine! Heaven also has multitudes of angels, all worshiping God, singing His praises, and serving Him day and night.  That will be a wonderfully amazing sight to see! God says there will be no sorrow or pain in heaven! God, Himself will wipe away all our tears!  After all our trials on earth, God will comfort us there. We will also see all our loved ones who put their trust in the Lord Jesus and who have died and gone before us. What a wonderful hope we Christians have of meeting our saved loved ones again in heaven!

The Bible tells us: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” I often imagine the scene when I go to heaven one day.  The Lord Jesus takes my hand and leads me to God.  As he presents me to God, he says with a glad smile: “Father here is your child.”  I have already experienced this love and joy in my heart. One day this will be a reality! The Lord Jesus is the only one who can take me to God the Father, in heaven! Does the thought bring great joy to your heart, my friend?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for preparing a place for me in heaven with You. And for all the joys You have for me there. Amen”

So Mary became pregnant by a miracle of God. At that time, Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter. God told Joseph to take Mary home to be his wife. Joseph obeyed God. God told them to name the baby to be born ‘JESUS’ which means ‘God saves’, because “He will save His people from their sins.”Then, at the time set by God, God’s own Son, Lord Jesus, who is holy and pure, left all the glory of heaven. He put on human form and came down to this earth full of the dirt of sin and was born as a tiny baby!  Just to save you and me! Isn’t that amazing? Can we even imagine it? But He did! We will read the beautiful story of the Lord Jesus’ birth in our next lesson.

Prayer: “Almighty God, thank you for your wonderful plan of salvation. Thank You for sending Your own Son to save us. Amen.”