Christians: How could you possibly enjoy your time in Heaven?

Question

Knowing that friends and family members will be burning somewhere in hell?

Some will say that because of "free will" they made their choice and have to live with it right? That doesn't explain how you will could enjoy heaven. My friends have free will, they make mistakes, it doesn't mean I write them off or care any less about their pain just because it is self inflicted.

If you truly care about people, don't you worry that your time in heaven will be spoiled by the knowledge that your friends are in excrutiating pain and suffering? Or doesn't that matter?

Good to see some of you have really thought about this.....It used to bug me tremendously.

For those of you who sat up strait and gave "not my Problem" type replies, consider your words and weigh them against your philosophical beliefs. If you don't care, and its not your problem then aren't you immensely cruel?

To those of you who said that you are praying for me, thank you, that is the type of response I would expect from a true caring person, but I can't justify believing in a God that would condone eternal suffering.

In the end won't you have to loose knowledge of those who are suffering to really enjoy heaven? If so, will God forget them also? Once they have made a choice, will he turn his back on them forever, for on life of mistakes.......Cruel.

Answer 1

Christians look forward to being blissfully lobotimized as they walk through the pearly gates. They believe they lose their memories, their feelings, their compassion, their charity, their love, everything that made them who they are, and become smiling, mindless, praying robots, forever and ever on their knees.

Answer 2

A very good question. And certainly, one that bothers most Christians to no end. This is why many of us "push too hard" for others to see the truth because we care about these people and no, of course we don't want them to burn over and over for eternity. However, it is said in the Bible (sorry, cannot remember where) that once we DO get to Heaven, even our best memory on Earth will be just a slight memory for we will no longer care (or maybe no longer have that capacity as we now haven't the capacity to care about Heaven because we are so far from it and know nothing of it save for what is written in the Bible-just speculation, this part) about the things that were so long ago at least to our minds. A tough one though.

Answer 3

Dear Sansfear,

I will definitely enJOY eternity in Heaven with the Author of life. Since I trust that He has all of the details figured out I am pretty sure that I won't think about whoever is not there.

However, here on earth I think about that a whole lot. It matters immensely to me. I know that my heavenly Father does not want a single person to be eternally separated from Him, so I do not want a single person to be eternally separated from Him.

Now is the acceptable time to consider such things.

I used to really enJOY watching Touched By An Angel. I still remember one season they depicted historical people. On the show with Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth they showed the many times that JWB was given the inspiration to not carry out his plan. But he rejected each one. Even after he had shot Lincoln and fled for his life the Angel of Death went after him to let him know that it wasn't too late to accept Jesus as his LORD and Savior. Even after JWB was mortally wounded the Angel of Death was by his side saying that it was not too late.

Because of that show I was praying for such people as Timothy McVeigh and Saddam Hussein right up to the end.

So Sansfear, it matters immensely to me. I will add you to my prayers and hope that before too long you will join me in prayer for those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior. God does not have quotas as some would have you to believe. Heaven is big enough for everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their LORD.

Edit: In answer to your further comments: I've come to see that I can trust the LORD completely, repeat completely. He is perfecting that which concerns the entire universe. Just as Pharaoh had ample opportunity to free the Israelites but refused so everybody alive will have had ample opportunity in this life. Nobody, absolutely nobody will be without excuse. The cruelty that you speak of lies totally within all who refuse to accept the Way, the Truth and the Life / Light.

Have you read any of C.S. Lewis' books? The Great Divorce, a Bus Ride from Hell to Heaven, a One-Way Trip for Some a Round Trip for Others might help you tremendously to understand.

Answer 4

First of all, I am sorry that you are so blind and that you have closed off your heart to God's word and Christ Jesus. May He open your eyes, heart and mind to His love, truth and wisdom.

Now as far as what you asked. I do know that being with Jesus and God will be beyond any happiness that we can experience here on Earth. I can only guess that with this it would supersede any sadness caused by seeing a loved one have to face God on Judgment day with out Jesus at their side and not being in the Book Of Life.
But seeing that I am not there yet, there is no way I can say that I will feel no sadness even if it is momentary.
The question is kind of idiotic when you think about it. How would we know with out being in Heaven? I do know from reading scripture that Heaven will be beyond just being happy. I will say that while here on Earth it does not make me happy to see people deny Christ Jesus as their Savior, because I do know that that means that they will not be in Heaven. By the way, the Bible does not say that you will be in Hell for an eternity. You are only in Hell until Judgment Day. After that, it gets worse.

Answer 5

First my concept of heaven and hell is not the same as yours. Either being with God or separated from God is all I'm solid on. If you choose to be separate, God allows that, how can I forbid it.

However yes it is saddening, but it is a choice and time heals all wounds. And there is an eternity of time.

Answer 6

I am not sure what kind of Christian you are aking....but I consider myself a Christian, and I believe God is very forgiving. I believe every single person on this earth sins.....it does not matter to what degree we sin, whether we are thefts, adulterers, and have committed crimes and served time in jail......or if you are a model person who sins only by being envious, being angry, telling little white lies, etc. I have been taught that a sin is a sin and we ALL sin.....but when our time here is coming to an end, I believe God will forgive us as long as we know what we did was wrong and we are remorseful. As long as we believe in Him, we will go to Heaven. I believe ALL people are good people, even if their acions do not show it, and we will all go to heaven one day because of our faith in God.

Answer 7

Christ has promised no sorrow in heaven. Therefore, when we take His word for it we probably won't even be conscience of those who suffer in hell. The reality in heaven is far different then what we know here on earth. The bible tells us that in heaven, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no tongue can express the treasures God has (in heaven) for those who love Him." We'll be so caught up in being in the very presents of Almighty God that whatever happened on earth will be but a distant memory forgotten.

Answer 8

Before being saved by the Lord, you have a free perverted will. Bent on doing wrong.
When the fall happened it happened all the way not partially.
It is God that grants salvation not a Christian, how come you can't get it.

I will enjoy my time in heaven immensely.
I have nothing to do with your salvation or your non salvation, it is not my job.

Get IT.

Answer 9

Nothing should matter except you and your relationship with god, You may be alone in your path with god, leaving friends and family in the dust, but i promise if they see the blessing you recieve as a chrisitan follower, their turn around wont be far behind your own. And once you do live your life for god, you will find true love in other believers and as unintentionally harsh as this may sound, no one else will matter. Its all about you and god, and whatever happens out of that is what truly matters.

Answer 10

Nope. I am looking forward to the day I meet the Lord in Heaven. If you or a family member don't accept Christ as your saver then it is your lost. While on earth I will pray for you all to seek the truth and find the Lord but once he takes me, it will be all joy.

Answer 11

I will be so busy riding wild horses and playing with tigers, I simply won't be concerned with the fact that many people made the wrong choice. I'm sorry for you guys, truly I am, but hey, its your choice. You think we should just say no to heaven cause you decided you couldn't be bothered? Get real. He will wipe every tear from our eyes, so I'm guessing you won't be our major concern.