Matthew 28 tells us that Jesus came to the disciples and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This is Jesus’s way of showing he wants everyone to spend eternity with Him and the Father in Heaven.
The big question is why would anyone not want to be saved and avoid eternity in Hell? If you do not understand anything, please understand this. God will never sentence or cause anyone to go to Hell. You read that right. God causes no one to go to Hell. Those who end up in Hell did so by their own actions and desires. It is amazing that the biggest reason people make no effort to be saved is that they are afraid of the unknown and are cowards afraid of death. The second biggest reason is that they are satisfied with being stuck in their self-centered, shallow living and are afraid to try to better themselves. And the third biggest reason is the uncertainty of what eternal life actually means.
Being afraid of death and the unknown should be easy to handle. We exist in a world that we have no control over. We do not know for sure what is going to happen next; we are so used to the anxiety of not knowing that we don’t pay attention to it. Not knowing if we will live or die is not on our minds because we know nothing about it. We do not want to consider death because we do not want to leave our families, friends, and our current lifestyles. Thinking about the fact that every one of us will be dead at some time in the near future is very worrisome. If you were to fall over dead tonight, will you wake up in heaven with Jesus, or will you be entertaining the devil while burning in hell? Matthew 25:46 states that everyone will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Heaven is where we will enjoy selfless love and serving others, rather than constant worry of personal gain and selfish comfort. Our worries about worldly ambitions, self-importance, selfishness, and digging for the next dollar interfere with seeing Heaven as the biggest reward anyone could ever achieve. Sometimes men will be so wrapped up in earthly problems that they will struggle with feelings of not being good enough or unworthiness to enter Heaven. This spiritual anxiety, spiritual ignorance, and being a spiritual hardhead could make a person feel they cannot possibly meet the standard for Heaven. Non-believers do not realize that salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned by good deeds and will not be denied if they accept God. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness. Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” God’s grace is given to all who repent and ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus as their Savior.
Sometimes we get all caught up in our own stupid egos and consumed by our ignorance of success; we do not want to change. Being satisfied and not having a desire to do better puts us into a rut we cannot survive. We find ourselves happy with current relationships, settling for the day-to-day existence, and not knowing we could be more than we are. Thinking of how we will spend eternity is not on our feeble minds. Contentment and an attitude that allows us to settle is a sure recipe for failure.
No one knows what Heaven truly looks like. Early writers talked about streets of gold, gates of pearl, and walls adorned with every kind of precious stone, but the true value has nothing to do with riches. Heaven should be described as a perfect, eternal dwelling in the presence of God, free from pain, worries, sorrow, and death, where believers experience everlasting joy and communion with God. Not knowing could cause people to refuse to face the unknown or not believe. If we trust our faith and the descriptions given in the Bible, all reluctance should be removed. So, with all this having been said, what now? Being afraid of the unknown, being afraid of Heaven, is understandable until you think about the truth and the consequences. If you think about the grace of God, the complete joy of spending eternity with Jesus, and being wrapped in pure joy and happiness forever and ever, what could possibly be standing in your way? The only thing standing in your way is that you are afraid to make a change. If you want to be saved or to reaffirm your belief, you can pray this simple prayer. Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I invite You into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your mercy and eternal life. Amen.”