Will everyone go to Heaven?

Kids Ask Hard Questions about Death

All people do not go to heaven. There are only two places to go after death, heaven or hell. Jesus often warned about hell. We can trust His Word (Luke 16:23-26; Matthew 13:42). When sin entered the human race through Adam, God said the punishment was death (Romans 6:23). Death means more than the body dying. Death for sin means separation from God and everything beautiful and good (Jude 7, 13; Matthew 8:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:10).

In love, God created His children to live with Him forever. Yet God’s love is holy and just,. God cannot leave sin unpunished. With love and mercy, God punished sin through His own Son (Romans 5:9-10; Romans 6:18). On the cross, Jesus’ body suffered real pain. But much worse, Jesus also suffered the pains of hell as He bore the punishment for our sin (Matthew 27:45-46). God the Father poured out His righteous wrath on His beloved Son instead of on His children. Jesus died willingly to keep us out of hell.

God’s warning about hell is a gift. God tells us of hell so we will consider the impact of our choices. Think of times we’ve done something wrong. Even if no one ever found out, we felt ashamed. Jesus invites us to turn to Him—to love and trust Him. He will forgive and take away our guilt (2 Peter 3:9). When we refuse to admit our sin to God and turn to Him, we choose to stay in darkness. Our sin is either on Jesus or on us. Everyone who is righteous by faith in Christ will go to heaven to live with God forever.

©2020/Barbara Reaoch. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED