Why Doesn't God Take to Heaven As Soon As We Get Saved?

God doesn't take His people to Heaven right away because He wants them to grow in their faith.  He also wants them to tell others about Christ, to help others, and to make the world better.  God has work for His people to do.

KEY VERSES:  Ephesian 2:10

Would God Send Nice People to Hell If They Are Not Christians?

Compared to each other, some people are nice and some are mean.  But compared to God, all people are not very good.  All people need to be forgiven for their sins, not just "mean people."  To be fair, God has to punish sin.  God doesn't want to send anyone to hell.  That's why He sent Jesus-to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross.  But, unfortunately, not all people are willing to admit that they sin and ask for forgiveness.  They don't accept the payment of Jesus' death for them.  So God lets them experience the results of thier choice.

KEY VERSES:  Romans 3:10-12

Why Is Being Good Not Enough to Get Someone Into Heaven?

It is impossible to be good enough to get into Heaven.  Every person sins, and even one sin is too many for Heaven.  Heaven is perfect because God is perfect - there is no sin at all in God's presence.  A person would have to be perfect to get into Heaven.

That is why we need Jesus.  Only Jesus can accept us into God's presence by forgiving our sin.

We are each like a pane of glass in a window.  If even one tiny corner of it is broken, it is broken.  We need a miracle to make us whole again.  We need to believe in Jesus and invite Him to saves us.  Then we can have our sins forgiven and be ready for Heaven.

KEY VERSES:  Romans 3:10

What is Hell Like?

According to the Bible, hell is very dark and very painful.  It is a place of eternal suffering and separation from God.  It is a place of grim lonliness.  The worst thing about hell is that it is separate from God and from all that is good.  There is no love, joy, fun, laughter, or celebration in hell.  Some people make jokes about hell and say that they want to go there to be with their friends.  But no one will have any friends in hell.  No one should want to go there.

KEY VERSES:  Luke 16:23

Who Ends Up in Hell?

Hell is the place where God will punish Satan and his followers-and all those who refuse to follow God.  We don't know exactly who will get there because we don't make that judgement; God does.  But God has made it possible for everyone to escape punishment from hell.  He gives everyone the opportunity to go to Heaven.  That's why He sent Jesus to die on the cross.  When Jesus suffered and died, He took our place-He paid the penalty for our sins.  So if we trust in Jesus, we can escape hell and go to Heaven.  It sure would begreat if all our friends, family, and neighbors would end up in Heaven.  Let's tell them how to get there.

KEY VERSES:  Revelation 20:15

Why Doesn't God Just Zap the Bad People?

God loves people so much, even the worst people in the world, that He is giving them time to turn away from being bad and to turn to Him.  God is very patient.  Someday, however, the time will be up, and all those who refuse to live God's way and give their lives to Christ will be punished.  That will be a very sad day, but it will come.

KEY VERSES:  2 Peter 3:9

————————————

Have any other questions for us—let us know!
Send your questions to BRT.Online@outlook.com

** These questions and answers are provided from the book 801 Questions Kids Ask About God—with Answers from the Bible, by Heritage Builders, a ministry of Focus on the Family, For All Ages.  Copyright 2000 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Used by Permission.