This past week a terrible thing happened to a Malaysian Airlines flight that was supposed to land in Beijing at 6:30 am on Saturday morning — the airplane simply vanished. No signal, no distress call, no evidence of what took place. The plane simple disappeared. The flight, which was carrying 239 people from 13 different countries, stopped communicating with air traffic controllers in Malaysia and Vietnam. Although the worst is feared, no one knows for sure what happened to the plane.

The shock of this unexpected occurrence — which left dozens of family members who were waiting in Beijing for the plane’s arrival distraught, angry, and afraid — reminds us of the suddenness of life. One moment all can be going well, the next moment, tragedy strikes and our world is upended. We tend to trust technology, advancement, and progress, but a plane that simply vanishes shakes our belief in any certainty that we may have in this world. It reminds us of the Bible’s words, “What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Such events cause us to soberly remember that our lives are fragile. We are not special. We are no better than the people who got on that flight — people with families, homes, dreams, aspirations, and careers. We, too, can be here one moment and gone the next. We can pass from life to eternity in an instant because of some unexpected, tragic event that is totally beyond our control. Such events remind us that we need to be ready for what comes after death — our eternal destination.

I hope and pray that all of those who boarded that ill-fated flight are in Heaven with God. We cannot know that for sure, but what we can know for sure today is whether or not you and I would go to Heaven if we happened to be killed in a sudden, shocking tragedy this week. Today, you have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour so that you can know for sure that you are going to Heaven whether you die suddenly and unexpectedly or whether you die naturally after living a long life.

Do you want this blessed assurance of knowing that you are going to Heaven no matter what happens in this life. If so, allow me to share with you three simple steps that you need to take to give your life to Christ and be given a home in Heaven.

First, recognize that your sins have separated you from God. Our sins are the bad or wrong things that we do. In honest repentance, agree with God about your sinfulness and admit your need for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Second, realize that God loves you, and believe that his sinless Son, Jesus Christ, died for your sins –taking the punishment that you deserve. John 3:16 says, “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.”

Third, accept Jesus Christ’s invitation to Heaven by receiving Jesus Christ into your life by faith as your Savior from sin’s consequences. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you trust Jesus Christ for salvation, you will be saved from sin, spiritual death, and hell, and you will be guaranteed a place in Heaven. If this is your heart’s desire, you can pray a short prayer to let God know about your decision:

Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today and forever. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”.

Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You!