No Matter What?

No Matter What? God never forces. He gives choices.

Copyright 2023 HeavenAndHealth.info

Topics in this booklet include: God Heaven and Hell WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE? Freedom of Choice Self & Sin Forgiveness Salvation Resurrection Eternity



What would happen if you were told this statement? You WILL go to Heaven, no matter what. Period . Would it change how you live your life? If so, do you think your conduct would worsen or improve? Would you start doing all the bad things that you’ve secretly been wishing you could do, but haven’t for fear of getting caught, being embarrassed, maybe even going to jail, and ultimately (if the deeds would remain unrepented of) not making it to Heaven? Perhaps you would take the opposite path and strive to live a holier life, out of gratitude for what’s to come? Or would things pretty much stay the same if you believed you’d inherit eternal life “no matter what”?

Those are challenging questions, for we tend to think that Heaven is something that we deserve or earn. Of course, none of us deserve it; we’re all sinners. And we can’t earn it by our works, as the following well-known verse reminds us: “… by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.” {Ephesians 2:8-9, WEB} Destinies do depend on Christ’s righteousness credited to believers. But faith in the Savior changes behavior. We then obey instead of stray. While true obedience occurs when God’s faithful ones respect His holy, unchanging law, others not yet converted may only make hollow, insincere “behavior modifications,” thinking to receive Paradise instead of perdition.

Now, what if this were the contemplative statement? You WILL NOT go to Heaven, no matter what. Period . Again, would anything change? Would you cease doing all the “good” things that you thought would win you a home in Heaven? Would you even start doing terrible things? Or, as stated before, maybe no changes would occur. You would keep doing what (I assume) you’re doing — avoiding being bad and continuing to do what is good — just because it’s the right thing to do, agreeing that: We should choose the right because it is right ... {Great Controversy, pg. 460}

“You WON’T go, no matter what” would obviously be distressing. That’s only for those who’ve committed “the unpardonable sin.” (If you’re worried that you have, then you probably haven’t — for the only sins unforgivable are the ones we cling to, in rebellion.) “You WILL go, no matter what” does sound comforting (for those who think they’re in that category); but it’s not accurate. If it were true, it would mean that we humans have no choice. And what if someone doesn’t want to go to Heaven? (I can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t, but I’ve heard of some instances.) Respecting each person’s free will, God doesn’t force anyone to choose bliss. Each human being is given the freedom of choice. … With deep solicitude, Heaven watches the conflict between good and evil. {In Heavenly Places, pg. 361}

With the aforementioned questions, of course what’s really in question is “motive” — the sometimes hidden reason(s) behind most everything we do (or don’t do). We tend to choose between right and wrong (hopefully choosing right over wrong) based on the likely results of those choices (both instant and future). We often do good to get good rewards, or we resist being bad to avoid serious consequences, right? Believers tend to make right choices based on their love for Christ. But what about those who reject Him and never renounce sin? Will Heaven be their home? No. But sadly, mourners of all ages are often politely misinformed that their devilish-but-now-deceased loved ones are in the form of a spirit that is presently enjoying “a better place” while constantly “watching over them.” It’s a concept that many have considered “comforting” but later find “creepy” after learning the truth.

“Heaven no matter what” is labeled a very “unbiblical” teaching, since nowhere in the Scriptures does it state that humans can live wickedly on Earth, never confess, never repent, never change, never place their faith in God, yet be transported to Heaven after they’ve died (and go there immediately, no less). Even Jesus didn’t go there immediately. We know He: ● died on a Friday ● rested in the tomb on Sabbath* ● resurrected on Sunday** On resurrection morning, Jesus spoke to Mary (the first of His followers to see Him restored to life), saying: “Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father.” {John 20:17, KJV} * Saturday, the seventh day of the week that God set aside for us, for worshipful rest ** The first day of the week, the counterfeit rest day imposed by Rome in 321 A.D.

It was 40 days later that Christ ascended to His Father, in bodily form, to continue heavenly intercession for us. By His example, we are shown that devoted followers of Jesus who have died before He returns will be, at His promised Second Coming, physically resurrected from their graves. To them, it will only seem like an instant after falling “asleep” that they “awake.” Of course, some people will still be alive at that time. The righteous living (and the righteous dead resurrected) will all journey to Heaven after Jesus’ glorious return: “... the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air ...” {1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, KJV} The redeemed will get to view life records, so all can understand the necessary judgment of the wicked.

Unfortunately, some are still taught the ancient Greek philosophy that, after death, a “ghost” floats to Heaven, and that it may later visit friends and family on Earth. There is one verse that seems to imply that an immortal being drifts to Heaven after a death: “… the spirit returns to God who gave it.” {Ecclesiastes 12:7, WEB} But since “spirit” in that verse is translated from the Hebrew word for “breath,” we’re shown it’s the spirit/ breath of God returning to Heaven when someone dies. God breathed the breath of life into Adam on Day 6 of Creation, and he “became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:7) In that first book of the Bible, God alerts us to the fact that humans don’t have souls but that we are souls. Why is the state-of-the-dead crucial to know? Safety.

To protect the living from the dangers of spiritualism — the forbidden practice of trying to communicate with the dead, which because it isn’t possible would mean talking to demons (eek!) — Ecclesiastes 9:5 states: “... the dead don’t know anything.” {WEB} So, if ever faced with what “appears” to be a deceased loved one, don’t let it deceive you. Resist the temptation to engage in any conversation. Instead, firmly and loudly say: “I rebuke you, by the blood and name of Jesus.” Upon hearing those words, the demon must flee. (And likely after its grin becomes a grimace.) There’s also power in God’s Word. Christ resisted evil with Scripture, saying: “It is written ...” So can we.

Some false beliefs spread to promote “loose living.” One states that God’s law was “nailed to the Cross.” But stone can’t be nailed to wood. And why would we want to abolish Commandments given to guard us? Other teachings frighten people into “upright living.” One of the cruelest is that heathens will suffer forever in the hot flames of Hell. That isn’t in the Scriptures. The Lord is a God of mercy, not brutality. Eternally punishing those who are lost would not only be merciless, but it would also mean that eternal life (albeit tortured) would thus be granted to them, too. But since unrepentant sinners won’t get eternal life, it’s not the punishing that continues forever, it’s the result of the final punishment — their eternal death. Everlasting death instead of everlasting torment is yet another proof of God’s kindness, even toward traitors.

We’re bombarded with another misleading teaching, that of “reincarnation” (coming back to Earth as a different person, or maybe as an animal or insect — depending on the actions done “in the previous life”). That belief in “karma” and being “born again” in various forms until perfection is a counterfeit of the spiritual new birth that we can only experience through Christ. The theory of living as many earthly lives as necessary, in order to get it right, is a very deceptive one. For the Scriptures teach the opposite — that people have one life in which to choose or reject the Savior. And though it makes a good storyline that there will be a sudden “secret rapture” of Christians, and all the non-believers are “left behind” (with seven long years to maybe change their minds), it’s Hollywood fiction. Decisions for Christ must be made before His return. Let’s choose Truth … “no matter what.” Period.

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