I know this sounds like a silly question but I`m serious. I`ve been told that you don`t get into Heaven immediately, how long does it take? I`m an agnostic and I`m curious about a lot of things.
2007-01-19 04:35:05 · 24 answers · asked by Hamish 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It will depend on the amount of purification you require. That state is called purgatory.
2007-01-19 04:43:42 · answer #1 · answered by Gods child 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is immediate, the very moment you ask for forgiveness and admit you cannot ever get to Heaven on your own works and actions. You must admit you cannot follow the Ten Commadnments as the purpose of them was to show how impossible it was to go to Heaven and be clean for it so on one's own actions. Like if God said said, you could either get to Heaven by being ten feet tall, able to slay a thousand men with no weapons in three minutes, and be able to fly; or, you could ask me for a pardoning. It is immediate. The holy spirit descneds upon that very moment. The road to heaven is how long it takes you to get to this point of realization. It generally happens when you have nothing left, no pride, nothing, and realize you cannot do it without Him.
2007-01-19 05:31:12 · answer #2 · answered by Melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you become a Christian thru Faith in Christ Jesus in part you are already there. You have recieved the seed of the new man Christ in you. You must begin to seek God and grow that seed that will grow into a mature Christian who will be able to walk tall in this world letting your light shine for Christ. It is all a process all of your life until you go to meet your Saviour in heaven. Should you be killed now know that your salvation is secure because of your Faith in Christ and the seed He put in you when you believed. If you die of old age and you remain faithful to Christ know that you will stand before Christ and give an account of all that you done with your Christian life. But you will be saved.
If you don't believe on the Lord now and if you died today you would go to hell.There are no escapes except thru Christ Jesus and Him alone. He is the Author of eternal Salvation and there is no salvation in any other. Salvation belongs unto the Lord.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
So the trip is rather fast.
2007-01-19 04:47:44 · answer #3 · answered by justice 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the road to heaven has already been walked- by Jesus Christ. He walked the long road to the cross for my sin, for your sin, so that we can live in a relationship with Him here on earth and then enter into heaven and live eternally with Him. If you are wanting to really know how you can get into heaven when you die, or when Christ comes back for His own,- here is the way- Admit that you are a sinner, I did that too, because I am- realize you need a Savior, I do- accept His sacrifice on the cross was payment for our sin. The long road to the cross led to the shed blood that is our payment.
2007-01-19 05:46:35 · answer #4 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The truth about heaven is that heaven is to with God. Also all souls came from God, so everyone has already been there. God does not leave or forsake us, but we do separate from Him in many ways, like sins and idolatry. It is because of this separation that we need a savior, and Jesus Christ is that savior. So I feel the road to heaven is as long as one wants it to be. I know that when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior, it was like getting on a highway to heaven, and when God affects my life, I feel like I am already there.
2007-01-19 04:46:10 · answer #5 · answered by isiseamenhotep 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I appreciate your curiousity, as it is a gift from God. Can you imagine a pile of rocks and goo - exploding - and out of that comes something non-physical like our curiousity.
The road to heaven is not long. Not at all. The road to heaven is one we can't walk, can't earn, can't work towards. God is perfect in justice. Even if we lived a nearly perfect life, we are still sinners (selfish) and can't earn heaven. That would be like a criminal going before a judge and saying, "I've been perfect 364 days out of the year so the one murder I committed doesn't count."
Our road to heaven is based on one principal truth. We can't earn it. It is a gift, given of a loving God who offers the gift of salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Believe it!
2007-01-19 04:40:59 · answer #6 · answered by Mike A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The standard belief is that people will get to Heaven upon the return of Jesus Christ.
However, some believe that if you are not quite worthy of Heaven (according to God and God alone), but you are not deserving of Hell, you will wallow for a time outside of Heaven until you have redeemed yourself (again, according to God and God alone).
2007-01-19 04:40:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, TODAY you will be with me in paradise."
Death is inevitable. The thief on the cross knew when his would occur, but we can not predict our own. After his death, the crucified criminal went to live in paradise with Jesus. Some of us will also live eternally in God's presence. But others will experience everlasting torment, forever separated from Him.
If we receive Jesus as our Savior, our penalty for sin is paid. We are adopted into God's family, and Heaven is our eternal home. If we reject Jesus, we remain alienated from the Lord and under condemnation for our sin. We are destined to experience eternal judgment. God won't accept any of man's excuses because there is no acceptable defense for unbelief. (Acts 4:12)
Become part of God's family today. Acknowledge your sinfulness, and express your faith in these words:
"God, I have sinned against You. (Romans 3:23) I've followed my own way and refused to give You the right to rule in my life. (Romans 3:10-12) I recognize I am separated from You and cannot rescue myself. I do believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I accept the truth of the Scriptures? that His death on the cross paid my sin-debt in full. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) And I ask You to forgive me of my sins. (1 John 1:9) By faith, I receive You, Lord Jesus, as my personal Savior from this moment on."
If you just spoke those words to God, then, like the thief on the cross, you have received salvation? a gift of God's grace. The heavenly Father welcomes every person who comes to Him through His Son, regardless of background, age, or current situation. Through Jesus, the right to enter paradise is yours!
2007-01-19 07:29:09 · answer #8 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord - there is no 'road' - the pathway is in reference to life here on Earth. The path is through Christ Jesus.
2007-01-19 04:40:14 · answer #9 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well there is no "distance" And you can get to heaven immediately...not sure who told you that.
If you have more questions...I am a Christian, I am open-minded, and rational, patient and kind. So feel free to IM me if you would like to discuss anything.
2007-01-19 04:39:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your road to heaven could end right now if you died. That's why we strive to keep ourselves in God's grace by not sinning and keeping our souls ready for heaven.
2007-01-19 04:48:37 · answer #11 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋