Most Christians feel that their faith assures them that, at their deaths, they will be forgiven all their shortcomings and will immediately be welcomed into heaven. Do not pass hell. Do not collect any baggage. They feel that their belief in Jesus Christ promises them this. Their churches assure them of this at almost every funeral. Jesus tells us, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” {John 14: 1-3}
As well, many Christians feel that those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ will be denied heaven. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” {John 14: 6} But is that “me” Jesus or is it God, who Jesus claimed to be? If the “me” is what Christians call God, then it is also Allah, Parameshwar, the “Spirit Force” or our creator by any other name. We can attain eternal intimacy with our creator only with it's help. Would our creator, by any name, refuse, to most of its creation, the help we ask of it?
If not, what about belief in a free pass? Is belief in the creator Christians call God enough? “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” {Luke 6: 46-49} Does it not sound like our creator, in the form of Jesus, is saying no. Actions speak louder than words. Reasoning, most world religions and spiritualists each establish that we are to become at one with our creator. You can explore what that means in Become At One With Creator. All agree that this entails doing the creator’s will and delineate what that means in words similar to Christ’s Greatest Commandment. You can explore what this commandment demands of us in All the Alls in The Greatest Commandment and The Neighbour in The Greatest Commandment.
So, at our death, will we be granted blanket forgiveness for our shortcomings or be judged as to whether we have done our creator’s will to the best of our ability? It appears the answer is “Yes” and “Yes”. “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” {John 12:48} “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. {Luke 13: 24} “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” {Luke 13: 28} Forgiveness is an act of love. Judgement is an invitation to complete the preparation we only started during our earthly lives. The gnashing of teeth will happen when we are faced with this reality and deplore that we didn’t do what was so clearly demanded of us while we were alive.
Many don’t accept the reality that we will be judged. They rightly conclude that a loving creator would not punish us. However, our judgement is about matriculation rather than punishment. Will we matriculate or be given an opportunity to repeat a grade and re-apply ourselves? It seems clear that our destiny of eternal intimacy with our creator is a certainty. The only uncertainty is how long it will take us to adequately prepare ourselves. Our creator will lovingly grant us all the time we need and rejoice when we are finally ready.
Should we not reapply ourselves while we enjoy life on earth rather than waiting until our judgement?
Del H. Smith conducts research into life’s meaning and is the award-winning author of the AMAZON Best Seller, Discovering Life’s Purpose.