Heaven and Hell
How do we get to heaven?
The way to heaven is like two close friends, one a judge, one a banker. The banker went to court for embezzling a huge sum of money. Seeing his friend the judge there, the banker thought he would be OK. When the judge declared him guilty, and fined him the maximum penalty, the banker despaired knowing that he was utterly ruined. Then the judge astonished him by saying, I have told the bailiffs to sell my property to pay your penalty. Here is the money you owe for the fine. Do you accept it? If the banker took the offer, he was free. It was his decision.
It is only by accepting God’s offer to deal with our sin, that we can be made perfect. It is like a drowning person: can they get themselves out of the water by pulling on their hair? Impossible! Only God can pull them out. Jesus dealt with our sin. He took it, for all people for all time. Christians trust in Jesus with a deliberate decision to accept that He has dealt with our sin for us. If you wish to gain eternal life then read about how to follow Jesus.
How is the Christian way to heaven different?
We would pollute heaven if we were there because we are tarnished with sin. We have to get clean first. We could try to "work" ourselves clean, but this is impossible. We just can’t do it! Christianity differs from all other religions because it does not rely on "works", ie. on things people have to do to gain God’s favour. There is not a thing we can do to impress God!
All other religions rely on 'works'. Suppose I ask you "What are you actually trusting in for your salvation? Why do you think you will get into heaven?" If you answer " I’ve done the best I can", you are relying on works. You are thinking that you gain merit or brownie points by doing good works.
Religions relying on works include Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Orange People, Eastern cults. Even some Christian denominations have slipped back into saying that we have to work our way into heaven via special prayers, ceremonies, and other actions.
Jesus, however, did do work. He died in our place and paid for our sin - but his work was different as He was also God. So the work was done by God for us, and also for God because God’s desire was to save mankind and have a relationship with us. In fact that is the reason for our creation, to have fellowship with God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they blew it, but God foreknew and made provision for it. That’s why scripture says that Jesus was slain from before the foundation of the world. Read more about why works won't get you into Heaven.
What about people who lived before Jesus?
God will treat them justly. Everyone has some knowledge of God, and all who truly respond will reach heaven. God is not a mystery! He has revealed much, and shown that he is just. Abraham and Melchisedek, for example, lived long before Jesus yet were said to be righteous before God.
Are there different attainment levels in heaven? Is there more reward if we do more things?
The Bible says that some will be better off than others. We are to take heed what we build, ie. what we do should be in obedience to God. Each one’s work will be tested to see if it endures.
We will be judged on the things we have done, on our use of what God has given us. If we live without doing what we know we ought to, we will be the loser. It is like a business relationship versus a family relationship. In a business the employee works and gets paid according to the work, and that’s the end of it. In a family, they work not for money, but for the mutual progress and building up of all.
We would be wise to compare ourselves not with each other, but with what God’s perfect plan for us is. We all come short of that!
Hell seems to be a harsh punishment?
Yes, but it is deserved because we are guilty. We deserve to lose our lives forever for things like murder, adultery, kidnapping. In fact we need do nothing to get to hell, as it is the natural destination of every person. Read more.