If the elevator were out of order inside a tall building, you would have to walk up numerous steps in order to get to the top. However, in reaching heaven, it can be said that there are only three steps.
FIRST, ONE MUST STEP OUT OF SELF. To do this, one must deny self: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mat. 16:24). Furthermore, in order to deny self, one must also give up self (2 Cor. 8:5), put off the old man (Col. 3:9,10), and forsake all else (Mat. 19:27).
The one who steps out of self no longer trusts in self: “Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). Furthermore, one no longer looks to self [“It is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23)]; wishes to glorify himself (Mat. 5:16), nor seeks first the welfare of self [“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat. 6:33)].
One cannot get up the stairway if he does not take the first step. There are those who, knowing about the first step, failed to take it. Such are: the rich young ruler who would not deny self of love for worldly goods (Mat. 19:22); the chief rulers who would not deny peer pressure (John 12:42), and position (John 11:48).
THE SECOND STEP IS STEPPING INTO CHRIST. Those that are in Christ are: new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17); triumphant (2 Cor. 2:14); and without condemnation (Rom. 8:1). In order to take this second step of getting into Christ, one must be +baptized: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3), and, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, did put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Yet, one is not able to take this second step of being baptized into Christ until he has been taught (Mat. 28:19, 20), has believed (Mark 16:16), has repented (Acts 2:38), and has confessed Christ (Rom. 10:9,10).
THE THIRD AND LAST STEP IS THE STEP INTO GLORY. Those who have taken the first and second step [and continue thereon without going back down (2 Pet. 2:21,22)], are taken upon the third step by the Lord, “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21). After our body has been “raised in glory” (1 Cor. 15:43) we shall “Partake of the glory that shall be revealed” (1 Pet. 5:1) which is his eternal glory by Christ Jesus (1 Pet. 5:10) which will be so wonderful “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
We are fortunate that the stairway to heaven only has three steps (and the last one is given to us), and not hundreds as there are in a tall building. Of all the stairways that you may have climbed in your life-time, do not miss going up the most important one.
Gary Henson