DO GOOD PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN? DO BAD PEOPLE GO TO HELL?

(UPDATED)

By Ken Simmons

First of all, the majority of people on the earth today do not believe they need a Savior. They say, “I’m a good person, so I have nothing to worry about, right?” Unfortunately, they have everything to worry about.

If the world only knew who Jesus truly is they would stampede to Him, and likely trample others on the way. His promises are the greatest ever given to humanity, and it’s an eternity in a place called Paradise. As wonderful as Paradise is, the alternative is equally bad. For those who don’t “flock to Him.” They face an eternity in a very real place called Hell, where Jesus said there would be “weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth” and it is . . . forever! ?

Let’s see if we can put this all into perspective, so that everyone, both good and bad people, can understand it.

First, everyone has sinned. We can’t quibble with that. We’ve all sinned in little ways, and we’ve all sinned in great big ways, but all of us sin. However, believe it or not, it’s not our sins that condemn us. Read on to find out why.

Sadly, many people believe that “good” people will be the ones who graduate to heaven, and bad people are condemned to hell. It's true that many good people will be in Heaven, but it’s also true that there are a great number of good people who end up in Hell, because they have not realized they need a Savior. They haven’t had their sins forgiven, and it’s only the ones who’ve been forgiven that will end up in heaven. You need to memorize the following words . . . “Only those who are forgiven are saved.”

Personally, I have known many “bad” people, whose lives had been riddled with sin, who’ve then had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and they will be among the few who enter through the “narrow gate” that leads to Heaven. They will spend an eternity in Paradise, living in a mansion, where the streets are literally, paved with gold.

If a “good” person has never surrendered their life to Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, they’re in real trouble. Jesus Himself put it this way,

“Whoever believes in him is not?condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” (see John 3:18-20).

Take a look at the following example of a common man, whose name is Mike. You might enjoy his story.

Mike, the bartender, basically is a good fellow, faithful to his wife, and a good father to his children, but for many years he’s had questions, and nobody seems to have the answers for him. So let’s give it a try . . .

Mike asks: Many people today actually believe, “If I’m a good person, that will assure me that I’m going to heaven, but if I’m a bad person that will send me to hell, right?” ?

Answer: “Yes,” and “No,” and “maybe.”

?Answer: The following statements are true, and they are *unequivocal.

?“You can never be good enough to earn your way into heaven, and you can never be bad enough to condemn you to hell.”

Mike’s even more puzzled now, so he asks,

“Huh? How can that be? If that’s true, then why should I keep trying to be good?? All of my life I’ve tried to be a good person, and you’re telling me that won’t be enough for me to get to heaven when I die?”

Answer: Yes Mike, that’s exactly what I’m telling you. There will be “good people” and “bad people” in heaven. There will also be, “good people” and “bad people” in hell.

Mike says he’s even more confused now.? So he asks,

“All I want to know is, how the hell (oops, sorry) how the heck can I know I will be in heaven when I die? Doesn’t anyone have a straightforward answer for me?”

Answer: ?Mike, most of the religions of the world, such as Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, etc., never promise an eternity in paradise. In fact, Muhammad, the founder of Islam in 616 A.D., confessed that Islam never gave him any assurances that he would spend an eternity in paradise. He felt that heaven was something that you earned through good works. On the other hand, Christianity says that its followers will find salvation and eternal life by surrendering to Jesus Christ, and that “It’s not of works, lest any man should boast.” That’s a straightforward answer, Mike. Also, here are a few more answers for you;

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36). And,

“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-13) And,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:25) And,

Mike, good people who have never surrendered their lives to Jesus, will, because they have not “believed in Him,” are condemned already, and bad people, who finally surrendered their lives to the Son of God, have passed from death to life, from darkness into the light.

Mike, that means good, or bad, makes no difference. Those who have not been forgiven by surrendering their life to Jesus, are condemned to eternal separation from God and will be in a place where there is “weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” (See Matthew 13:42)

So Mike, in conclusion, I repeat; good, or bad, makes no difference in the long run. Only those who have been forgiven by surrendering their life to Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, will spend eternity in paradise. ?I hope that answers your questions.

Now I have a question for you.? Mike, are you ready to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, to make Him your Lord and Savior, so that you can spend eternity with Him in paradise?

Mike:? “Where do I sign up? Where do I write my name down, because that’s the life I want for me and my family.”

Answer: Mike, that’s the greatest answer that any human being can ever give, because you’re accepting the most amazing gift that mankind has ever been offered, or could ever imagine. It’s the prize to end all prizes. It’s eternal life in paradise. Mike, it’s official. You’re “signed up” – and your name is written in the Book of Life. Welcome, and . . . Yahoo!!

-----

Author’s personal note: I have known many (many) bad people, i.e., thieves, drug dealers, heroin addicts, armed robbers, burglars, etc., who, when they decided that listening to the devil’s lies, and following his evil ways, wasn’t working out so well for them, so they finally came to their senses and decided to follow Jesus. When they made that choice their lives were radically and forever changed. That’s how you gain an eternity in paradise.?

?

It’s not complicated.

?

-----

?

*Unequivocal – Answer: The truth is unwavering.

D