I often hear people say that you cannot know if you are going to Heaven or not. The Bible is plain about this matter – especially throughout the New Testament.

The Bible makes it plain that you not only can know but that God wants you to know – for sure. Consider the above two verses. Before you read them again, eliminate all preconceived ideas about the matter and observe what the Bible – God’s Word – says.

In verse 12, the bottom line of knowing whether you are saved or not, is what the Bible says about believing on Christ. It declares that if you have the Son (Jesus) then you have eternal life. If you do not have the Son, then, you do not have eternal life. That is quite plain.

Now, people are not born physically having the Son. We know this because verse 13 says twice that you must “believe” to be saved. Babies do not believe anything. It is why Jesus said, in John 3:3, that to go to Heaven, you must be “born again.” The first birth is not sufficient.

To believe on Jesus Christ means to understand, first, what He said about salvation. He declared that He came to save sinners. Jesus said, in Luke 5:32: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

After admitting to God that you are a sinner, you must know that Jesus died as your Substitute. All people, because of their sin (rebellion against God’s laws), are destined to go to Hell to pay for their sin. Repentance means turning from sin in your heart and being willing to start doing what God wants.

In prayer, tell God that you are sorry for your sin. Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and receive His payment for them, then ask Him to come into your life as Lord (Boss). If you are serious about it: you “may know that ye have eternal life” – based on the Word of God.

At that time, you have “the Son” – and not before.

In the verses previous to this one, Jesus had just told His disciples that He would be leaving them soon. They were disheartened and did not understand it.

To comfort them, Jesus gave them the above verses, telling them that they did not need to be troubled over it. The powerful statements in these three verses are enough to help comfort any believer still on earth. Here they are in summary form:

1. There are many mansions in Heaven
2. Jesus is leaving to prepare a place for us
3. Jesus will come back for us
4. Jesus will take us to be with Him forever.

Jesus prefaced these statements with “let not your heart be troubled.” We are often troubled and lose our peace because we are so focused on the present and its difficulties that we forget that there is a much better future planned for each of God’s children.

God wants us to endure for a little while down here. Learn to get victory through Christ – He is more than able to give it. Remember, too, that He is coming back soon for His own. Continue to believe His words and go on living for Him. You will be glad you did when you hear those words: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

In John chapter 13:33, Jesus had just told His disciples that He is going to a place where the disciples cannot go. It is near the end of His earthly ministry.

Jesus tells them that they had believed God already, now it was time for them to believe Him. He is going to give them some good news about His return.

He indicates that His Father’s house has many mansions. He must leave to make preparation for His bride (the church) to live with Him. In Bible times, it was Jewish custom that the bridegroom make a place ready he and his bride to live, and when it is ready, he will come for her.

Jesus also promises to return to take His Bride away to be with Him in glory. It is definitely a picture of the Rapture. Note that He says that where He is (in Heaven), He will receive us unto Himself.

By way of observation, the Heavenly city (described in Revelation 21) is 1,500 miles square, or 2,250,000 square miles on the first floor. There are 640 square acres in 1 square mile. If each believer received 1 acre with his or her mansion, there is room for 1,440,000,000 lots. If each person received 5 acres, there is still room for 288,000,000 5-acre lots – all on the first floor! And remember – there are 12 floors!

Are you looking for His soon return! What a glorious day it will be for those who have remained faithful to Him – that they receive a full reward (II John 1:8)!