It is my fervent and urgent desire that you make it safely home!
That may sound overly dramatic, but I am not referring to your earthly home. When you cross the threshold of this life into eternity, there are two possible destinations. One is extremely exclusive, while the other is fully inclusive.
Heaven is exclusive – in fact, it is by invitation only!
John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
The gospel (literally the "good news") is that this invitation is extended to all.
John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
However this invitation expires on your death at which point your destination is unalterable.
Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once - and after this, judgment.
Heaven is where God dwells, in perfect love, peace, joy and community; and beyond the reach of evil. Jesus has been preparing a place for his people (his Bride – the true Church) – a place so amazing it is beyond imagination.
John 14:2-3 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind - God prepared this for those who love Him.
Those who become followers of Jesus transfer their citizenship immediately to heaven.
Philippians 3:20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Time is running out on this evil-infested world as it spirals out of control, and judgment day is rapidly approaching. But first, Jesus is coming back to fetch his people. If hundreds of millions of people instantly vanished from around the globe, do not believe the media spin, but rather the verse below.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
One particularly exciting aspect of heaven is that its citizens require immortal bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality.
Romans 2:6-8 He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour, and immortality; but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness.
A word of caution: being a follower of Jesus is not an easy path to find or to stay on. Jesus himself warns:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Hell was never intended for people but for Satan and the fallen angels of the rebellion.
Matthew 25:41 Then he will also say to those on the left, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
But humanity was deceived and joined the rebellion; unless you are reconciled to God, you are still a rebel.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."
Jesus probably spoke more about hell than anyone else in the Bible, and describes it as a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth". Weeping for those who recognise the just judgment of God, and gnashing teeth for those still raging in rebellion against God.
Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 13:50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30
Hell is inclusive – there are no acceptance criteria. Anyone not accepted into heaven is sent there instead.
Revelation 20:15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
It is the non-believer's destination, no matter how good they may be. This is very hard for most people to accept, but to make it on your own merit would require a life of flawlessly living to God's perfect standard. But Jesus is the only one who has lived a perfect life.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
Hell will be full of people who embraced evil and did terrible things, and most would agree deserve to be there. But hell will also be full of "good" people, who lived a "good" life, but ultimately rejected God's free gift of reconciliation. In peculiar contrast, heaven will be full of unworthy and undeserving, but reconciled "sinners". If Hitler, at the point of death, was reconciled to God, then the power of the shed blood of Jesus would have transferred even him, into the Kingdom of Light.