Read Time: 3 Minutes 38 Seconds
People don’t automatically go to heaven when they die. Regardless of what they believe, heaven is not their default destination.
It takes a purposeful act on your part to choose to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Thankfully, Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead to keep us out of hell. Hell is more terrifying than your mind can conceive, and God doesn’t want anyone to go there, but you must choose your eternal destination.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14 that most people are choosing the road that leads to hell. Jesus said hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. If you haven’t made God your Father through faith in Jesus Christ, you are following another father whether you know it or not. Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:44 that their father was the devil because they rejected Him. It was their pride, arrogance and envy that stopped them from believing who He said He was—the Son of God.
What’s keeping you from knowing Jesus? Is it a sinful lifestyle that you don’t want to give up? Is it a relationship that you know deep down inside you need to walk away from? Is it the temporary pleasure you receive committing sin even though you’re left feeling empty inside? Do you think you’ll have to give up your fame or money? That depends. Are those your gods?
Whatever is first place in your life is your idol, and that’s what you give your worship to. Whatever is stopping you from surrendering your life to God is what may ultimately take you to hell. It’s your choice.
Maybe you think that because you’re a pretty good person you’ll escape hell. You’ll be sadly mistaken. Good has nothing to do with who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. All of us above the age of accountability are automatically on the road to hell because we were born in sin. God’s standard of good is perfection and all of us fall short. Our sin separates us from God. We can’t live in His perfect home, which is heaven, unless our sin is dealt with and that’s why Jesus came—to die for our sin. Only the shed blood of Jesus is valuable enough to pay for our sin.
What’s stopping you from trusting in Jesus Christ? Why would you gamble with your soul? In Mark 8:36-37 Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Hebrews 11:25 says that sin is fun for a season. It brings temporary pleasure. However, Numbers 32:23 tells us our sin will find us out. In other words, there is a day of reckoning. There will come a day that you will stand before Almighty God and give an account for your life. In Isaiah 13:11 God said, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud…“
Your thoughts, motives, attitudes and actions will all be judged. Do you really want to be judged for your every thought and motive? Jesus said in Luke 12:3, “Whatsoever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in the closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
Maybe you think you’ve done too many bad things for God to forgive you. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. God will forgive you if you come to Him with a sincere and humble heart. You are not too far-gone for God’s limitless love. Psalm 86:5 says, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” That verse tells us that God’s mercy and forgiveness are always available to us but we must do something. We must come to Him.
I grew up a pretty good, clean kid. I was never involved in drugs, drinking or immorality. Yet as clean as my life was, I was still on the road to hell. My good behavior would not save me and grant me entrance into heaven. God says our good works are as filthy rags compared to Him. I still needed a Savior and so do you.
Again, I ask, what’s stopping you?
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Bill Wiese is the author of New York Times best-selling book, “23 Minutes In Hell,” the story of his life-changing visit to hell in 1998. Bill has since authored six additional book titles, and continues to share his experience around the world. He and his wife Annette founded Soul Choice Ministries in late 2006 and have dedicated their lives to reaching the unsaved. For more information about Bill Wiese and Soul Choice Ministries please visit us at: https://soulchoiceministries.org/. You can find more of Bill’s teachings at: https://www.youtube.com/user/BillWieseTV.
Paul McGuire 
