Have you ever met anyone that truly doesn’t want to go to Heaven when they die? In fact, the evidence shows that a majority of people believe that going to Heaven is an “entitlement” from God. The argument is most often made, “God would never send anyone to Hell. Therefore, we will all go to Heaven when we die.” And then there are those that believe that though one may go to Hell, it will not be for an eternity –
because after one has paid their sin debt in Hell, they will be delivered up to Heaven to spend an eternity with God.
In chapter 8 of the Book of John we find that Jesus addressed the entitlement issue with the Jewish Pharisees. The Pharisees believed that they were entitled to go to the Father in Heaven because they were of the blood-line of Abraham. Since the Scriptures declared that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the Pharisees concluded that God was truly their God as well, by virtue of their lineage and self-righteousness. However, let us notice what Jesus stated unto them in John 8:37-47,
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
In dealing with the statement concerning one being delivered from Hell into Heaven after some period of time, Abraham gave the following statement to the rich man in Luke 16:22-26,
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
Revelation 20:10, 14-15 states,
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The question must now be asked, “Where will you spend eternity: Heaven or Hell?” The answer is found in John 3:16, 36,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Have you secured a home in Heaven? You have if you have repented of your sins and through faith trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. If you haven’t, why not do so today before it is eternally too late?
