Does Everyone Go To Heaven?

Does everyone go to Heaven? Here’s a closer look at common beliefs and what the Bible has to say about eternity.

While overlooking Lake Michigan on a recent family vacation I was awestruck at how even on a cool and dreary day the lake was still breathtakingly beautiful. It’s strong and powerful waves somehow left me completely at peace.

The calming crash of the water, soft sand beneath me, and sprawling green trees behind me quickly drowned out my busy thoughts and the chaos of life. I sat there watching my husband play with our children and listening to their sweet laughter and, if for only a short while…

 All was right with the world.

It’s almost as if our Creator specifically designed nature to be a comfort to us in this way.

I started thinking that if I can enjoy this much beauty and peace in a broken and sin cursed world… I can only begin to imagine the beauties Heaven holds.

Thoughts of Heaven didn’t always excite me as they do now. It wasn’t until I began growing in my faith that I finally realized the emptiness of the world around us. Although I love my husband and children more than I can even put into words, and am beyond grateful for the many blessings that surround me, there is only One person who can ever fully satisfy every one of our longings.

That Person is Jesus.

The very moment God thought us into existence and formed us in our mother’s womb He knew that we would never find satisfaction without Him.

He specifically created each and every one of us to need a relationship with Him. And until we find that, we will aimlessly wander through life seeking one high after the next.

I say all of this because one day each of us will breathe our last breath.

And then step into eternity.

With all of the busyness, distractions, and noise life throws at us I wonder how often we truly stop to think about what is most important in life and what lies ahead.

What exactly is the point of our existence?

What will happen when we die?

If there is a Heaven and literal Hell, what are the deciding factors for who goes where?

Is Heaven simply the default destination for the average “good” person? Will we see all of our loved ones who have passed on before us there?

Is there a way to know any of this for sure?

Does Everyone Go To Heaven?

Multiple studies indicate that roughly 65% of Americans do believe that everyone will go to Heaven when they die. Over the years I’ve heard many different reasons as to why people think they will go to Heaven and the majority of these answers seem to fall under four categories:

• Because I’m a good person.
• Because I believe in God.
• Because there are many paths to Heaven, and my way is just as good as anyone else’s.
• Because God is a loving God and would never send anyone to Hell.

Before we dig in to this topic I’d like to back pedal for a moment and share with you my reasoning for writing this post. I love to encourage others, build them up, and make them smile! However, my desire to see a soul saved will always trump my desire to just make them feel good in the moment.

Although, this unfortunately isn’t my outlook 100% of the time (I get busy, distracted, and lose my focus more than I’d like to admit) when I look at people, I see a soul… a soul that will spend all of eternity either in the presence of God or completely removed from Him.

 ALL. OF. ETERNITY.

The very moment we leave this world behind, all of our chances to humble ourselves before the gracious and mighty hand of God will be over. A soul is so precious. I want to share truth and see as many people enter Heaven as possible.

Friends, to put it bluntly we have an enemy who desperately wants to deceive us into thinking that we are “good people” and on our way to Heaven. For too long now we’ve believed his lie that God is a loving God and would NEVER send anyone to Hell.

Yes, God is an incredibly loving God, BUT He is also equally holy, righteous, and just. He cannot be in the presence of sin. Nor does He send anyone to Hell. We willingly go ourselves when we allow pride to steel our hearts in our desire to be the god of our own lives.

While listening to other’s viewpoints on the topic of God’s existence and eternity it is interesting to note the many contradictory beliefs. It seems that a large number of people haven’t completely thought through their beliefs and simply choose to look at faith, in general, as a buffet more or less. “I’ll pick and choose what I like, mix it with that, and ignore everything that doesn’t quite suite my preferences”.

Sweet friends, is this really how we should approach the most important decision we will ever make in this lifetime? Do we genuinely think that if we simply believe (or hope) something to be true it actually becomes truth? That God is pleased with our hearts and will overlook our neglect of half of His Word? If our good deeds or simple belief in God’s existence could save us then why did God send His Son to die a criminal’s death on the cross?

Who Will Go To Heaven According to the Bible?

We will always be able to look around and find someone whose sins are greater than our own, but this will never justify our own sinful state before a holy God. A read through of the 10 Commandments will quickly reveal that we’re not exactly as great of people as we like to make ourselves out to be.

Have you ever told a lie? Looked with lust? Dishonored your parents? Harbored hatred for someone? (Jesus says that to look with lust is the same as committing adultery in your heart and hatred is the same as murder.) And there are still 6 more commandments to go! If God were to hold you accountable according to this standard on judgement day would you be innocent or guilty? Would a just God simply let you off the hook and overlook your offense?

I would be guilty. We would all be guilty. And the Bible very clearly states that the wages for our sin is death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death and separation from God for all of eternity in a literal place called Hell.

Not Heaven.

Friends, the very reason God gave us these commands was to show that we fall short, but then to lovingly point us to the cross and the whole reason He sent His Son in the first place.

To redeem us.

Forgive us.

And set us free from the bondage of our sin.

Who Will Enter Heaven?

The Bible doesn’t say that good people will go to Heaven. The Bible says that “there is none good. No not one.” (Romans 3:10 ESV)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

These are not verses we are hearing from our American pulpits very often anymore. These hard-hitting verses make us uncomfortable. But they are truth. Much needed truth that has the power to change a life and save a soul.

And now the good stuff! God is a good God! An unbelievably patient and loving God who is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

He gave His perfect sinless Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sin, so that we can be forgiven and spend an eternity with Him in Heaven. If we trust in His sacrifice, seek His forgiveness, and repent (turn away from) of our sin we can rest assured of an eternity spent with Him.

Does God Forgive All Sins?

There is no sin too great for God to forgive. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:19).

A genuine decision to follow Christ can’t help but result in a changed heart. We will still mess up. We will still fail our Savior, our loved ones, and those around us. But sincere repentance produces fruit.

A love.

Joy.

Peace.

Patience.

Kindness.

Goodness.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

and Self- control...

that weren’t there before.

God’s grace breaks us free from the strongholds of sin and gives us a desire to live for something much greater than ourselves.

I’ll never forget several years ago hearing that remote tribes and unreached people groups throughout the world have been discovered adhering to a similar code of ethics as the 10 Commandments God gave us.

We have a moral compass written on our hearts.

God gave us a conscience to lead us directly to Him.

Please don’t sear it, harden your hearts, and turn your back on His sweet offer of amazing grace.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me” – Jesus (John 14:6)