Every religion has one thing in common. The concept of heaven. Whether it’s called Nirvana, Enlightenment, or Celestial City, they are all referring to this ideal state after this life. Christianity is no different. We believe in heaven just like all the other religions do. But there is one difference. That is, in Christianity, the way to heaven is through the cross.

In Matthew 20, as Jesus is going up to Jerusalem to establish His kingdom, the mother of two disciples approaches Jesus and asks that her two sons would have two highest positions with Jesus. Jesus replied, “You don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink?”

The mother and the disciples didn’t understand that Jesus was going to His death. They thought that Jesus was going to overthrow the government and establish His own. With Jesus as their king, they certainly expected to take high positions. The mother simply wanted her two sons to take the highest positions even among the disciples.

What did they forget? The cross.

Without the cross, Christianity is no different from any other religion. Or any other worldview for that matter. We earn our way to heaven by being good and doing good. But that’s not Christianity. It was earned by Jesus alone at the cross. Therefore, the way to heaven is through the cross.

You want to go to heaven? I do. Then, bear your cross. There is no other way to it…

PH