The idea that Heaven exists as a wonderful eternal home without pain, sickness, death or sorrow makes it the desire of all who believe in life after death. Everyone with any sense wants to go to Heaven, a place of happiness, especially since the only alternative is eternal torment and agony in Hell (Matthew 25:46).
Heaven is a place of promise from God, but it is not an unconditional promise, meaning that everyone who has ever lived and died will go there. “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36 NKJV).“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’” (Matthew 25:41-43).
Our faith in Christ and obedience to the Gospel are essential to being saved eternally in Heaven. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:16-17).
No one has the promise of Heaven without having faith in Christ, obeying the Gospel and living a faithful (not perfect but obedient) life. The promise is assured to all who will accept it on God’s terms. There is no hope without faithful obedience.
