Terrified To Go To Heaven?

This morning I encountered a couple standing out in front BJACH. As I passed by I asked, “How’s it going?” To my surprise, the man answered, “Terrible.” So, I stopped to ask him why. He told me, “I’m beyond hope, Chaplain.” I explained briefly that no one is beyond hope. To this he answered, “All you Christians want to go heaven, but none of you want to die.” I answered, “I disagree with you. Eternity begins when you receive Christ, not some day down the road when you fall over and die. I’m already living eternally.” He paused then said, “Alright” sort of halfheartedly. I told him I hoped things would begin to turn around for him and if there was anything I could do to please let me know. As I walked away though, I thought of how there was in fact some truth to what this man said. I know many Christians who are in fact afraid to die. I’ve even had the privilege to be with two elderly Christian men who on their death beds fought hard until the very end. Both professed Christ as Lord, and yet both struck me as being terrified to go to Heaven.

What we need to understand is that Heaven is a place. We Christians are not saved to a place but rather to a relationship with God. This whole, “Raise your hand if you want to go to Heaven” routine is completely unbiblical as is its counterpart, “If you don’t want to go to Hell, pray this prayer.” Heaven is merely the place where we will experience the fullness of our relationship with God. It is not the end of salvation nor is it the prize.

One afternoon several years ago I was running during the middle of the day. The sun was shining bright, and I entered under the shade of a tree to catch my breath. As I stepped closer to the edge of the shadow to cross back over into the light and continue my way home, the Lord spoke to my heart, and I understood what death was to be like for me. Just as I stepped out of the shadow of that tree to step into the light of the sun, I will one day step out of the shadow of this life into the light of the next.

I confess. As a Christian, I do want to go to Heaven, but only because Jesus is there.

The world’s watching us, Christians, watching to see whether or not there really is some truth to our hope. And, we owe them a good death. Whether abroad on the fields of battle or here at home in Garrison, we owe them a death that sings aloud of our faith, not in a place called Heaven, but in a person named Jesus.

I’m not terrified to go to Heaven. Are you?