Heaven is not for everybody

*A letter from Dorothy Hanna, SED ’04 Leah Johnson, CFA ’05 Tim Stonesifer, COM ’05 Clark Spencer, CFA ’05 Kate Wright, SED ’03 Lindsey Nelson, ENG ’05

In her Dec. 3 letter, Michelle Consiglio states, ‘Anybody of any religion has a chance at a future in heaven as long as they stay true to their beliefs and live a life of love, respect and work for the common good of all’ (‘Christianity tolerates all faiths,’ pg. 6). Jesus Christ says something to the contrary: ‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins’ (John 8:23-24).

We believe in a god with high standards of perfection. As humans, we are incapable of achieving this perfection, but God still wants us. Therefore, He sent His son to die for us and gives us a choice to bridge the gap. Jesus says, ‘for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son’ (John 3:17-18). This is an invitation available to everyone to experience life to the fullest. We are free to choose whether or not to accept His invitation. The distinction of ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’ comes from this response. ‘Hell’ is eternity apart from God; ‘heaven’ is spending our eternity with God.

We choose God. He’s changed our lives and we are experiencing every day what He meant when He said, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.’