There is a myth that is common in Christian as well as non-Christian circles: People who die always go to a better place. I have been to funerals of individuals who were said to have gone to “that better place”—but I knew they were not in a better place. These are called funeral assurances, words of comfort that assure and reassure people that their loved ones—no matter how they lived or what they believed—have gone to heaven.
There are reasons that people tend to believe in a better place for all. First, they think God grades on a curve—that as long as they are sincere, any spiritual path will work. This idea is shattered by the reality that there is not one area in life where this is true (for example, think about surgery and car repair).
People also want to believe that a loving God would not send anyone to hell. They claim that only ignorant, religious bigots think that Jesus is the only way.
So, what does the Bible actually say? It might not be a popular teaching, but according to Matthew 10:28 and Mark 9:42-45, there is a real place called hell. We read in Matthew 25:41 that hell was made for Satan and his angels—not for believers in Jesus. However, those who refuse to receive God’s free and precious gift will go there too (Matthew 25:41-46). Sin separates us from a holy God. On our best days, we all fall short of God’s standards. Based on Romans 3:23, God does not grade on a curve.
The Bible clearly states that Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Trusting Him as our Lord and Savior is the only assurance we have that we will go to a better place when we die. Let’s remove every obstacle and tell people about Jesus!
More:
• Acts 4:12
• Romans 5:2
• Ephesians 2:18
Next:
In what way is faith in Jesus Christ exclusive and narrow? With whom will you share the Good News today?
lisacrayon on May 7, 2009 at 10:04 am
Amen brother.
This is the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must share with everyone as our Lord has commanded us.
Mark L on May 7, 2009 at 10:17 am
Regarding myths about people going to a better place when they die. I think we have to distinguish between Christians and non Christians. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a believer or has a personal relationship with Jesus. While I think non Christians are either searching for a way to fill the gap and can’t accept the free gift of eternal life because they have been deceived into believing they have to earn their way into heaven. Or they just refuse to believe there is, one all knowing, all present, all powerful God. It is my belief that no matter how good a person is or was, our goodness is as filthy rags before God. Isaiah 64:6. The Christian believer on the other hand has a firm grip on Jesus and work at Calvery. Accepting that work by faith through Grace allows one to stand before God and have Jesus as their advocate. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6.
It grieves me when I hear that someone dies and somebody else says they were a good person and I know they are in a better place. WRONG. But, I am not allowed to say that because I would be judging them. I try to tell them I am not judging, God has already judged them. Case in point my father in law who boasted in being a Mormon would get him into heaven. On his death bed unless he was sincere when he accepted Jesus as Lord and did not give lip service to appease others, I fear he will not be in heaven as some think, only God knows and I would not assume to underestimate Gods Grace. On the other hand when my parents died I know they are with the Lord. Before my Dad died of cancer Gods Grace extended his life 6 months so he could share his faith in Jesus with his brothers and sisters. Then someone said, “God took him” NOT. God is a giver of life not a taker of life. My Dad ran off with Jesus. Not long after that my mom ran off with Jesus, both believers, both in love with the Lord. At the end of my days I look forward to running off with Jesus too.
I agree we need to remove obstacles and tell everyone about Jesus.
msroby on July 8, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I am one who wants to believe that we will all go to heaven, except for Satin and his angels. I do want to believe that because God is a loving God in ways we do not and will not know.
We read that God created us with his own hands in our mother’s wombs and I wonder– how could this be if some of us are to go to hell? Why would he create a human knowing that this person would go to hell? It seems wrong.
Then there is the parable of the Bridegroom and the ten Virgins. 5 who were wise and 5 who were foolish and the 5 foolish ones did not get into heaven. Of course the parable did not tell us if all of these were firm believers, except by their actions. If the 5 foolish ones had prepared more for the coming of the Bride, they too would have entered the kingdom of heaven, but they did not.
So if it is true that not all will get into heaven, then I have to believe that God created humans in the wombs of their mothers knowing that they would be going to hell.
I am weak in this area of wisdom and knowledge of our Lord’s Words to the facts of going to heaven and hell.
I find I have much understanding, knowledge and wisdom to have a theology of the Word in most areas, but on this, I find myself with questions to be answered by God, the Word and Jesus Christ, hopefully in the near future, but certainly in the right time and place in my life.
The narrow path can be the choice we make to live our lives following Jesus and the Word or not to. The battle is in our minds. Constantly having to focus on Jesus or be lost to Satan. Learning to not live in this world but of the world. To be giving to others and not ourselves. To know there is only the one God. To live a ordinary life and be content. To stay at peace and serenity.
The Bible is a revelation of God, who He is and what He has says in the Word. What we do with that information in our everyday, ordinary lives leads us to one path or the other.
God created all things is how this book starts. He created all things. It’s how it’s so hard to believe that something God created will go to hell and be destroyed.
Not everything is understandable in the way of God, as we know, but acceptance is always the way of the truth of what it is. We are told to accept what is, even if we do not understand it. I have done this in a lot of areas of the Word, with faith, hope and love, I accept. It’s just harder for me to accept this.
I pray to God that I will get better understanding in this area, so that I will have better wisdom and knowledge.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.