Three Steps to Heaven 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24
 
As the song says … ‘There are Three Steps to Heaven’ … but the biblical ones are somewhat different from the song.
 

Step 1:       Deny Yourself

Before any filling there needs to be an emptying. 
 

Step 2 : Take Up Your Cross

This symbolises a life of self-sacrifice and identification with Jesus.
 

Step 3 : Follow Me

This is to recognise Christ as the guiding force in our life, directing our character and behaviour.
 
The Gospel isn’t cheap just because it’s free. 
It will cost us everything, but the rewards far outweigh cost.
 
As Paul says ‘… I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ’.   Philippians 3:8