Listen to: Dangerous Christianity: Heaven

How can a good God send good people to Hell?
Can you lose your salvation, or is the sinners prayer your ticket to Heaven?

To hear most Christians talk, the best thing about Heaven is that it’s not Hell! Apparently saying the sinners prayer makes us good people, and that’s why God doesn’t send us to Hell with the rest of those horrible people who aren’t smart enough to follow God. Now no Christian I know would actually admit to the previous sentence, but their lives express it very clearly!

Let’s take a look at what Heaven is, and why you might want to go there.

Heaven is the best of all the afterlife options that you’re offered. It’s a reward for not being as bad as murderers/drug addicts/politicians/etc. It’s the ultimate ‘vacation’ spot. Right?
Wrong!
Heaven is nothing more or less than the opportunity to spend eternity with the One that we love! It’s the marriage, the beginning of the best part of our relationship with the One that we adore! I submit that those who can’t imagine spending an infinite amount of time worshiping their Creator would be absolutely miserable in Heaven!
Heaven isn’t about a lavish retirement place. It isn’t about re-uniting with loved ones. It isn’t about living pain-free. Quite simply, it’s not about us at all! Much of what I hear about Heaven all revolves around us, how wonderful we’re going to feel, how happy we’re going to be, and how comfortable it’s going to be for us.
I don’t buy it! I dream of spending an eternity worshiping and serving in the presence of the One who gave me life! That’s so much more than enough! The happiness, the lack of pain, re-uniting with loved ones all fades into the background when we anticipate bowing down before our Saviour, and worshiping Him! If you could only grasp the magnificence of that thought!

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Phillipians 1:21

How so very true!

Now if the only appeal of Heaven is God’s presence, then why would someone who has rejected God want to spend eternity before Him?
God doesn’t choose to send people to Hell! He offers the choice of living in His presence, or not. The torment of Hell is the separation from His presence and care. On earth, regardless of whether we choose God or not, we enjoy His care, and the bounty of His creation. If we experience His care, and still reject Him, then as we enter eternity, Hell is the only logical option. It’s our choice, not God’s!

When we talk about Heaven, another question tends to quickly arise.
Once we’re saved, can we lose our salvation?
Let’s not beat around the bush. Yes! God tells us over and over that He longs for a relationship with us! He doesn’t say that He’s longing to punch our ticket to His jewelled resort. Anyone can give up on a relationship, and a relationship with God is no different.
I once heard it said that when we ask the question of whether or not we can lose our salvation, we’re really asking how far away from God we can get and still get into Heaven! That’s the wrong question! We should be asking ourselves how close can we get to God! When that’s your focus, you’ll find that a ton of ‘doctrinal issues’ like this disappear, or just look plain stupid!

Here’s what it boils down to: Your life can be full and overflowing by having a real relationship with a real God. When you have that kind of relationship, the anticipation of Heaven is almost unbearable, and the desire for others to experience that relationship is nothing short of overwhelming. On the flip side, if that anticipation and desire isn’t there, perhaps it’s time to do some searching for God!