The Begining of a True Understanding

I am currently reading a book by Brennan Manning called "The Furious Longing of God." I am only about two chapters into it, but I have to tell you I am really liking it.
My relationship with the Father has been tumultuous to say the least. It has been a roller coaster that no one would want to ride. I am currently trying to get a true understanding of God. I know hte scriptures. I was a pro at Bible trivia back in the day. I know what it says. I just have a lack of understanding.
Anyone can read the Bible and interpret it. The Bible has been interpretated many times by people of the same religions. Many Christian groups read the same Bible, but have many different ways of saying the same thing.
As a Baptist I was raised that when you die, if you take the Father into your heart and ask for forgivness, you are assured a place in heaven. It is where your soul goes as soon as it leaves the body. You all know John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." But if you actually read the passage before it states, "No one has ever gone into heaven except one man who came from heaven- the Son of Man." John 3:13. Now I take this to mean that no one has ever actually been to Heaven except Jesus. That would mean that when you die you get put in a grave and there you sit waiting on the Son to return and take you to Heaven.
I kind of have an easier time believing this anyway. Jehovah's Witness' believe that you do not go to heaven when you die. They believe that during the Rapture all the souls of the Christians will inherit the earth (excpet for those that were invited into heaven.).
I have learned that in my upbringing, I was told that there was a certain way of doing things. Unfortunatly, I have decided that just because one person says it, in the name of Christ of course, does not actually make it so. I believe that you have to try to interpret things on your own. If Christ lives in you, He will show you the way. I am working on listening to the Spirit within myself to make my self a better person. I am reading some things that hopefully will lead me in the way of the Lord and not stray as I have the past decade.
I believe I have a long journey ahead of me. I will stand couragious in my Christian ways. Even though I will faulter, I will stand strong in believing that God has a plan for me. I am going to try harder to listen to it.