In the last article, we discussed the heart of Jesus. (Check out the previous article here.) We looked at how Jesus desires to save all peoples. Having a heart like Jesus means loving everyone, even our least favorite people, and inviting them into a relationship with Jesus. So we reach the question: Does everyone go to heaven?
If Jesus seeks to save us all, then it would seem like all go to heaven. But let me ask a different question: Does everyone want to spend eternity with God? Sadly, not everyone wants to be with God for all eternity, let alone this very minute. Here lies the answer to the question: Does everyone go to heaven?
In other words, if you don’t have any desire to be with God, then you won’t want to go to heaven. You are either with God (all of who He says He is in His Word, not just the bits and pieces you like) or not. And hell is for those who choose not to be with God.
Clear & Plain Evidence
How do we know and believe in God? Being a loving and faithful God, Romans 1 explains how God reveals Himself plainly, for all the world to see. But people still choose not to believe because of their pride and their desire to go their own way. Here is what Romans 1:18-25 says:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
God is personal. He doesn’t leave us in the dark about who He is. He provides all we need to know about Him in His Word (the Bible) and through His creation. And He knows He is the best thing for us. We all need Him. Romans tells us that the truth about God is in plain sight, so man is without excuse. It is mankind’s pride that leads to thinking we don’t need God. We don’t always want God to be the answer. We often want a different answer for life’s biggest questions. But the evidence for God is clear and plain. And He is the answer we should all desire.
A Desire for All
Even though people believe they don’t need God, He desires for all peoples to come to know Him and be with Him for all eternity. His love and grace do not allow Him to leave mankind without help and hope for coming to know Him. He provides us with all the help we need and the time to come to repentance.
Here’s what 2 Peter 3:8-9 tells us:
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
That is grace. God gives us what we don’t deserve—Himself and the opportunity to come to Him. His love and patience are immeasurable.
God or No God
To wrap this all up, God provides all the evidence we need to know and believe in Him. He also has the patience to wait for people to repent and turn to Him because He desires all to be saved. God wants nothing more for us than for us to know Him, because we need Him more than anything.
God proves our need for Him in sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue us from our sin and death by dying on the cross. We can’t save ourselves. Our salvation depends on Someone far greater and outside our universe.
So, the answer to this article’s question: Everyone is welcome into heaven, but not everyone will choose God over the world.
Are you going to choose to seek, believe, trust, and follow God (all of who He says He is in His Word and in creation)? Or are you going to choose the ways of this world?
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