I’ve seen video clips of people asking Christian pastors and pundits, “Am I going to Hell because I don’t believe in Jesus? What kind of loving God would do that?” I’ve been impressed with their answers, which amount to, “God isn’t sending you there. You’re choosing it if you reject Him.”
I have another response: “Do you even WANT Heaven?”
If a person rejects Jesus, refuses to follow God’s direction, why would they want to spend an eternity with Him? “You call his statutes regressive and bigoted - or worse, so why would you want to live in a place that’s suffused with Him in all His glory?”
Another question to ask is, “What about Heaven appeals to you?” Perhaps that person wants the fabulous food, the five-star accommodations, or they imagine it’ll be a non-stop theme park existence where you don’t have to pay for the rides. All the corn dogs and cotton candy you can eat without getting sick or gaining weight.
In short, they don’t want God, just the benefits He can give without the obligations He imposes. Seems like that person is a goldbricker. “I wanna do what I wanna do, and get the goodies He has without giving a thought about Him whatsoever.” That person is like the stereotypical blonde bombshell getting married to a ninety-five-year-old billionaire. She’s seldom interested in the rich man for who he is - she only wants his money when he dies. And she’s hoping it’s sooner than later.
Heaven is where God hangs out. In Heaven there’s all anyone could imagine, and more. But if you want the goodies and not God, how insulting is that to Him - the Creator of everything?
If you look first for God you’ll get the corn dogs thrown in. A lot of people think, “If I follow Him I’ll get the corn dogs and cotton candy here.” But that’s what’s called a “prosperity gospel.” And it couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you really want God for Who He is, when you get to Heaven you’ll get Him. The five star hangout you’ll get along with Him won’t mean a thing. The best restaurants on Earth won’t be even a shadow compared with what’s available in Heaven. And THAT food won’t be even a shadow of what eternity with Him will be like.
Some people get married for what their spouse can do for them. That’s tragic, because when that person can no longer fulfill that need, the foundation of that marriage vanishes.
Other people get married so they can simply BE with their spouse. It’s not about what either can do for the other, but rather because they want the intimacy of someone who understands and accepts them for who they are.
Over and over in the Old Testament God equates worshiping idols as adultery. God wanted a close relationship with the Hebrews where they understood and accepted Him for Who He was - IS. The entire relationship was - and still is - like a marriage where both partners are so loved by the other they’d do anything to stay with them.
That’s the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. God wants us to want him so much we’d sell everything to get Him. The lesson isn’t “sell everything and get God,” but that no price is too high to spend eternity with Him, simply because of Who His is.
In case I haven’t expressed it before, you have to realize that not only is He our Pearl of Great Price, we are HIS Pearl of Great Price.
He gave everything He had so He could have us with Him in Heaven.
So ask yourself - is He worth giving up everything in return? Do you want Him?
Do you want Heaven?
