You know, growing up, I always had the mindset that God was NEVER mean...as in he doesn't punish anyone, but as I grew to know more about God and who He is, God is the ultimate definition of LOVE. It's because He is Good and because he is LOVE that He cannot allow sin to go unpunish. I'm so glad that I serve and praise such a MIGHTY LOVING GOD.
Bill:
It is a COMMON misconception to believe that God is mean or unloving because of His standards for entrance into heaven. A 2006 Barna poll showed that 54 percent of Americans generally believe that if you are a good person, you will go to heaven, and if bad, to hell.
However, eternity in heaven is not based on being good for two reasons: First, it is based on a relationship, and second, whose standard of good are we referring to? Yours and mine may differ. Well, God's standard certainly does differ, as His standard is much higher than ours.
1. It is based on relationship.
Suppose you knocked on the door of the most expensive home in the country and told them, "I'm moving in with you." What do you think they would say?
"No," of course! And you wouldn't expect them to welcome you. You have no relationship with them. So for you who question God's fairness, can you expect to live your entire life having nothing to do with Him, even denying that Jesus is the Son of God, and then come knocking on God's door at your death and say, "Excuse me, I'm moving in with You"?
Why would you think that you have the right to move into His house? Why would He let you in? You never asked Him to be your Father as He offered Himself to you during your life on Earth. As a matter of fact, you denied His Son as your Lord and Savior, whom He told you was the only way into heaven. Therefore, there is no relationship that exists between you and Him (John 1:12, 8:44,17:9,Rom.9:7-8;Gal. 3:26). He is not your Father, only your Creator. (Col.1:16).
You say, "But He knows me, and He is supposed to be a loving God!" He knows you exist, but He doesn't know you personally because you didn't want to know Him. You said with your own mouth, "I don't believe that Jesus is the only way or I don't believe He is the Son of God." It will be your own words that will send you to hell.
In Matthew 12:37, Jesus Himself said, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
If a stranger came to you and said that he was moving into your home, would I be justified in calling you mean because you would not allow him to access? Would I be justified in saying that you were unloving? No, because whether or not that person moved in with you is not based on the question of whether you are loving or not; it is based on your relationship with that person.
So it is with us. If we do not have a relationship with Jesus, then we are not in His family and have no right to enter His home. So who is the inconsiderate and unreasonable one? Our lack of knowledge is no excuse. It is just as if we were speeding and told the police officer, "I didn't see the sign!"
Imagine showing up at the border of another country and saying to the border patrol, "Excuse me, but I'm a good person, so I would like to be granted admittance." Now, we wouldn't expect them to let us in the country, would we? So why would we expect to gain entrance to another kingdom? We need a visa or passport for another country, and we need a relationship with Jesus for heaven. Good has nothing to do with it.
2. Whose standard of good?
Regarding our second point--"Whose standard of good are we referring to"--we need to look at God's standard, and His standard of good is perfection (2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 18:30; 19:7; Hab 1:13; Matt 5:48; Heb. 5:9; James 2:10). Based on this standard, you would need to be perfect to gain entrance into His kingdom. If you lie or steal or lust or even have a single foolish thought just once, you are excluded. (Prov.24:9; 1 Corin 6:9; Eph. 5:5; James 2:10; Rev. 21:8). Now that's a high standard.
So let me ask you, do you meet those requirements? Are you perfect? No, no one is (Rom 3:10; 12; Gal. 2:16; 2 Tim. 1:9). Getting into heaven is not based on being good--and it's a good thing it is not. Not one of us would make it if that were the case. (John 1:12; Rom. 3:20-26; 2 Corin. 5:21; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9) Thank God, heaven is a free gift; we can't earn it.
The only way to heaven is the Cross. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all thoes who call upon You.
-Psalm 86:5
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