Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
There is heaven and there’s hell, but who goes to heaven and who goes to hell? We live in a world that often dismisses the afterlife as mere myth or metaphor, but we must stand firm in the Biblical truth that these are real places, with eternal consequences for each and every one of us. Throughout the Bible, we find vivid descriptions and profound teachings about these two ultimate destinations. Heaven, the glorious dwelling place of God, offers eternal joy, peace, and communion with our Creator for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a place of hope and promise, where every tear will be wiped away, and we will experience the fullness of God’s love.
Conversely, the Bible also speaks clearly about hell, a place of eternal separation from God, reserved for those who have rejected His grace and chosen a path of rebellion. The imagery is stark and sobering – a lake of fire, outer darkness, and unending torment – reminding us of the serious consequences of our choices in this life. Let’s dive into God’s Word and discover the profound truths about our eternal destinations. This article delves into Scripture to understand what God’s Word tells us about these places, why they exist, and most importantly, how this knowledge should impact our lives right now.
If heaven and hell are actual places that exist, how do people go there? If you do not know Jesus Christ personally and have not been born again, you must be born again in order to receive a mansion in heaven. Without being born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. If you believe in Christ, physical death means being absent from the body and present with the Lord in heaven. “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Sadly, the opposite is true for the unbeliever in Christ. If you are an unbeliever, physical death just means being absent from the body and present in hell. It is an instantaneous journey to hell.
The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:22- 23).
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:28-29).
You may be a good person, and many people believe that being good means you will go to heaven. They have their own beliefs, suggesting that if your good deeds outweigh your bad ones, you will be granted entry to heaven. The Bible, however, teaches that good people don’t go to heaven and bad people don’t go to hell. Only forgiven people go to heaven and only people who refuse forgiveness through Jesus go to hell. Many good people may end up in Hell, believing their goodness alone qualifies them for Heaven, without acknowledging the need for a saviour.
" The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is what makes us right with God. "
Listen to what Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I, say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Imagine standing before God and hearing Him ask, “What makes you worthy to enter into heaven?” How would you answer? If your first thought is to tell God how good you are, mention your Bible reading, or talk about how your parents took you to church, then you are not born again. The only correct answer is to say, “I put my faith in Jesus Christ.” Many people think, “I’m a good person. I go to church,” but this is not sufficient. You must be born again. It doesn’t matter how good a person you are; you must be born again, and that’s very simple. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and truly believe in your heart, and you will be saved. You must ensure that you are born again. If you haven’t done this, you need to receive salvation now.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is what makes us right with God. To receive His free gift of salvation, you only need to believe. It’s so straightforward that people often believe it can’t be this easy. But it truly is that simple. All that is required is to believe in the completed work of Jesus. Scripture says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The words are easy to say, but you also have to believe what you say in your heart. Salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ. You declare your faith openly to show accountability to Jesus Christ, your Lord. You have to genuinely commit to turning your life over to Jesus. This doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again; none of us are perfect, and there will be times when we fail. You must also believe in your heart that He has overcome death. This means He not only has the ability to save you, but He also possesses the authority to lead you and the wisdom to transform you.
You must be willing to turn the direction of your life over to the Lord and accept salvation based solely on what Jesus has done for you. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus has already paid for your sins, so salvation is simply a matter of receiving what God desires to give you. It’s not about convincing God to give you something He doesn’t want to give. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice, and salvation is available to everyone, no matter their identity or past actions. That is why the promise is whoever puts his/her faith in Christ will be saved and will receive eternal life. It is absolutely guaranteed to any person who receives His grace – He will never reject them.
It’s God’s desire that everyone be saved. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). God, our Saviour, desires for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. This text of scripture clearly tells us that God’s major will for your life is to know Jesus. The Lord does not celebrate the need to judge wicked people but is eager for the opportunity to redeem those who believe in His Son as Saviour. He is not willing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus Christ has paid the penalty of our sin through His sacrificial, substitutionary, all-sufficient death (Romans 6:23). All of us fall short of God’s standard of perfection. Before believing in Jesus, we are spiritually dead to God, blind to His ways, unable to communicate with Him, and eternally separated from Him due to our sinful nature. We cannot change any of this by our own works.
