I need someone to tell me...?

Question

...why for the life of me I just can't quite bring myself to believe that Heaven and God are real, and that, being a saved Christian, I'm going to go there when I die.
I have this absolutely horrible, gut wrenching fear that I'm going to spend my whole life trying to find God, but in the end I'm going to end up in Hell or some place I've never heard of because I believed the wrong thing. Ugh. And then I feel absolutely horrible for even thinking something like that. It's a vicious circle that keeps going around and around and I just don't get anywhere. Bible passages seem to mean nothing when people try to help me with this. I just don't know what to do. Is it a fear of rejection??

I'm a born-again Christian. I'm not sure I made that very clear.

Answer 1

As far as the belief in God, I could tell you about all the evidence that points to a "creator", the scientific facts that the bible contains, and all the prophecies that have came true in the bible hundreds and thousands of years before hand, but I don't have the time and space to do this, and you have even probably heard some of it before, so I will try to tackle the next part of your question.

Why you need to be "saved", has to do with sin. Not one single individual on earth has lived according to Gods 10 commands, and that means you have sinned. If you have ever, lied, stolen anything at all, hated someone, used Gods name in vain, wanted something that belonged to someone eles, etc... then you have sinned. The punishment for this is death and hell. Why do we sin you ask, well God created man in perfection, with all that he could have ever needed to live and prosper on this earth, but man chose to disobey God and break one simple commanment which was to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man in sense wanted to become like God, instead of being a friend of God. Now, since man has broken the law, our fine has to be paid which is death and hell. That is exactly what Jesus done was paid our fine. He is God that came to earth in the form of a man, lived perfectly according to Gods law, took the suffering and punishment of sin to the cross when He was crucified, then rose on the third day and descended into hell to defeat death and set the captives free. If you turn from this life of being a "lawbreaker", recieve this payment for your fine, then you will be spared, if not then you won't. It's no different then a criminal in a court of law having someone pay his fine for him. According to the law, the judge HAS to fine the individual, even if he is sorry for his crime, the needs of the law MUST be met. If someone offers to pay that criminals fine, he in return has the choice of accepting or rejecting that payment. How can you turn down such an awesome gift such as this? How would you feel about someone who would sacrifice everything they have simply to pay a fine that YOU commited and they did not? I tell you the truth man, If you'll turn from your sins, that is stop "willingly and habitually" commitng them, and tell Jesus that you realize you are guilty and you will accept this payment, you will be saved and God will reveal Himself to you, and even give you a better understanding of His word. All you have to do is just pray and ask. If you need anything at all, please feel free to email me. Peace to you my friend.

Answer 2

You claim to be a Born-Again Christian, but I think you need to be reborn. If you truly believe in God as you say, you have to believe 100% in your heart that there is a Heaven and that he is real. otherwise, all your claims about being a Christian are just false. Also, it's not just beleiving that there is a God, because the Bible says that in James, even the demons believe there is a God. It's not just believing, you have to do His will.

Answer 3

Well, there is a certain truth to the fact that the harder you try to find something, the more trouble you have finding it. Think of the times when you are trying to remember a name... and its right on the tip of your tongue. You try and try but you can't think of the name. Then you sort of give up trying to figure it out, and thats when it hits you.

The problem with finding God is that God is all around you. The harder you try to find God, the more you are telling yourself that God must not be all around you. Think of when you are searching your house for your keys when they were in your pocket all along. No matter how hard you look, you are never going to find them because you never lost them in the first place.

So I'd suggest to stop trying to find God and instead practice opening your eyes, ears, and mind up to the very real possibility that God is being revealed to you in each and every moment.

Answer 4

Setting aside what religions have to say, I've always known deep in my soul that there is a wonderful home on the other side where God and all my loved ones who have passed on are waiting for me. This doesn't come from any man made religion, and I can't explain it, really. I just know. By the way, I believe that the only "Hell" is right here on earth. Think of how negative this place is. Don't worry, just do your best here and God will welcome you home.

Answer 5

Something to think about. Why would God make himself a mystery to his creation? Every religion in the world talks about a god, or gods and goddesses but none explain who God is. Jesus is the Eternal Son of God who became flesh and walked among men so man would have no doubt as to who God is. If you want to know who God is and what he is like, you need look no further then the One who revealed himself to mankind as a man.

The bible tells us this. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Seek him with all your heart and you will be rewarded, guaranteed. I can speak with authority as a former Atheist. For now, don't seek a church, don't seek a person, seek the Lord himself first.

My second edit since I saw that you said you are a born again believer. Perhaps you need to find a church that teaches the truth of the gospel of Christ. Perhaps you are involved in a works based church that teaches loss of salvation. There is nothing more discouraging and frightful then being taught that. Seek a "Free Grace" church not to be confused with a "Free Will" church.

Answer 6

The Roman Catholic Church states that any person who leads a good life, and truly searches for God, shall be saved in the end. You have this feeling for two parts. One part of you wants you to do what makes you happy, in this life. However, that other part of you wants you to come to God. This last part is explainable in two ways: 1) God wants you to come to Him, or 2) You want to fit into a society that, for the most part, believes in God. I believe it is a combination of both of those things. Just keep searching, and wondering, and weighing the evidence.

Answer 7

I can't convert you and won't try. That's the work of the Holy Spirit.
If you come to a point of believing in God then know He promised heaven.
Black and white.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions:

if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. <==

I go to prepare a place for you.


I'm praying for you.

Answer 8

Go to an Assembly of God church this coming Wed. or Sun. and listen and ask questions after the service. There are other good churches out there, but I would try the above .

Answer 9

Instead of having this stuff going on and on in your head, why don't you go to a Bible believing church and check the whole thing out? I didn't always go to church, do you know somebody you could go with? This would be a good thing for you, and hey, you might even like it lol

Answer 10

Most people who feel the way you do haven't yet come to truly know and love God.

Keep praying and studying, and get more involved in the work of your local faith community, and things will work out OK.

Merely studying scripture is not enough.