What if I don’t want eternal life?

[BlessedPeace]

The universe is unbelievably vast, millions of light years from one star to another, with unknown numbers of worlds in between. How could anyone get bored exploring all of that with the stories we have to tell different beings of creation aspects of God love for sinners that they could not possibly imagine.

I don't think there are sinners on other worlds. Just this one.


The thing is, if someone never hears about Yeshua, they aren't judged later as worthy of Hell. Because they died not knowing they were in need of salvation.


That makes spreading the good news not so good. Because without it people are better off when they die. They never knew they were condemned from birth.

 

[Kabone]

No, that's not how it works. No one earns their way into heaven by works. We only get there by confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:19).



I think you have a lot of preconceived ideas of what you think heaven is like, and the idea of living for eternity probably sounds boring. I don't think it will be that way at all. All the near-death experiences (NDEs) I've ever heard said that when they were there, they never wanted to leave.



I heard of an NDE who went to heaven and said when he was in Jesus' presence he wasn't thinking or caring about anyone else, not his mother, not his family, no one. That may be hard for us to fathom, but I think once you there, the joy is so all-encompassing that there's no room for anything else. That would explain how there will be no mourning or crying of the "things passed away". (Rev 21:4

When I wrote about doing god’s work I thought it went without saying I’ve accepted Jesus as my savior. Apologies for the confusion.
I’ve read arguments several ways about what it takes to get into heaven, all backed up with plenty of verses. It’s quite confusing, but I figure if I do it all then I have all the options covered.
Can you double check Roman’s 10:19? Mine doesn’t read like that. Maybe you meant romans 10:9?

 

[Jericho]

Can you double check Roman’s 10:19? Mine doesn’t read like that. Maybe you meant romans 10:9?

Yes, that was a typo. My mistake. Salvation isn't complicated, people make it complicated. Jesus did all the work, we only need to accept the gift.

 

[Brakelite]

I don't think there are sinners on other worlds. Just this one.

I agree. This world is utterly unique due solely to the magnificent grace and love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus. I believe a party of our future will entail sharing that one self sacrificial aspect of God's character that will be unknown and not ever experienced by those who had never sinned, and been forgiven.
As for preaching the gospel. Everyone has sinned. No exceptions. If you deny anyone the opportunity to hear that the Creator of the universe loves them, and died in their place , and that if they repent of their sin and believe, they will never die, you will be held partly responsible for their ultimate demise.
KJV Ezekiel 3:17-18
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

 

[BlessedPeace]

I agree. This world is utterly unique due solely to the magnificent grace and love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus. I believe a party of our future will entail sharing that one self sacrificial aspect of God's character that will be unknown and not ever experienced by those who had never sinned, and been forgiven.
As for preaching the gospel. Everyone has sinned. No exceptions. If you deny anyone the opportunity to hear that the Creator of the universe loves them, and died in their place , and that if they repent of their sin and believe, they will never die, you will be held partly responsible for their ultimate demise.
KJV Ezekiel 3:17-18
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

If God is just,he cannot damn to Hell anyone who never knew the ultimatum His Gospel affords.

 

[DJT_47]

Too bad. No one has a choice.

 

[Duck Muscles]

We do have a choice, and the Lord will ot force this on anyone. Scripture says, I have set before you life and death therefore life is the better choice. But he wont force it on anyone.

And sometimes that's the point where people have said, yeah but I didnt ask to be here...
And I beg to differ on that too. Scripture says He does not change. (Malachi 3:6) so the Lord was already like that and wont change His mind and force you live eternally with Him if you dont want to.

As far as I didnt ask to be here goes...Doesnt scripture say that He knew us before we were in the womb? So if Jesus doesnt force Himself on people and He knew us before we were in the womb...then it stands to reason that He did not force us to be born here, He doesn't change! So we did choose to be here, or, at the very least, we agreed to it.

Just because He gave us all Amnesia when we were born doesnt change the facts, it just means we dont remember doing that! I believe we probably chose our own parents before being conceived.

But if one thinks about it...so if we knew the task set before us at that time, then it also stands to reason that we also knew the reward if we came out of it alive...That must be some big reward to make us want to come to this hellhole!

And again, if you look at scripture, that's exactly what it says, our reward is beyond our (earthly) comprehension. It will be that good. Hang in there Brother! In His strength, we can do this!

I don't recollect the teachings as you describe them.

No one comes to God but through Jesus. This doesn't happen your choice because we don't know how unless God leads us.God chooses us. We don't choose God he chooses us.

 

[BlessedPeace]

I don't recollect the teachings as you describe them.

No one comes to God but through Jesus. This doesn't happen your choice because we don't know how unless God leads us.God chooses us. We don't choose God he chooses us.

Ego and pride will always object to that fact. It's there in the words of God yet those who idolize self will never see it. It is foolishness to even suggest it. That's in scripture too.

False doctrine is discerned by the, I can ....
I can choose. I can lose....

It will always be in opposition to the I AM.

That's how we can tell the difference between the doctrines of man and those of God.
Some go so far as to insist on the blasphemy that says Jesus was just a blessed man serving God.

 

[Rockson]

It seems I am confined, through no choice of my own, to live for eternity, either in heaven or hell. Is it bad that I don’t find that appealing? Certainly no one finds the prospect of hell appealing. The heaven part sounds really nice, but for eternity? If I don’t have a choice, what about my free will? I prefer to die and that be the end of it.

But you probably lack perspective on what Heaven and the next world is like. If we think of this world as merely a sand box and outside the box you see as we might say THE REAL WORLD perhaps you'd never take a position you'd want your life itself to be over.

 

[TiredSoul]

I am white, 74 years old, living comfortably, and I have it much better than most. I regard this as more good fortune than good management.
I pray and read scripture daily, and attend Church weekly. Yet. I see the miseries of this world all around, many perpetrated by people who call themselves Christians, and I question the capacity of humans for such inhumanity towards others. In my own life, all I see is failure, inadequacy and embarrassment.
Such memories haunt me, and I look forward to the end, but the thought of any interminable existence to follow where such memories would continue horrifies me.
I don't worship for any other reason than that's what I am commanded to do. The only "reward" I seek is eternal oblivion. If this is not an option, as far as I am concerned, it would be better that I had never been born.

 

[quietthinker]

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins, five foolish and five wise. The foolish ones assumed they could get in good with the bridegroom (Jesus) because as they said, they had done 'the right things'. They ultimately went into oblivion (outer darkness)

They rejected the Good News in favour of self absorption.

 

[Angelina]

Greetings, @TiredSoul, welcome to CyB. The Lord did not create mankind, particularly those who have been saved by grace through faith, so that their light will someday be extinguished. He created them to be a light in this unkind world. Failures, inadequacy, and embarrassment in the form of regret or sin affect all believers at some point in their lives, but the Bible tells us that we have an advocate with the Father, the Lord Jesus, who will intercede on our behalf. 1 John 2:1-2. The Bible tells us that if we confess our sin to him, he is righteous and just to forgive us and wash us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. You do not need to carry such memories. Give it to the Lord in confession, and he will take that burden off you.

Walking with God should not be a burden but a blessing and a joy. Find your purpose and reason to exist because without purpose there is no hope, and you seem like someone who has lost hope. Look around you and ask the Lord how you can be a blessing to others so that your life can have meaning and your existence leaves a legacy for others who will, in return, give God the glory.

 

[TiredSoul]

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins, five foolish and five wise. The foolish ones assumed they could get in good with the bridegroom (Jesus) because as they said, they had done 'the right things'. They ultimately went into oblivion (outer darkness)

They rejected the Good News in favour of self absorption.

Thank you for the feedback. That's not the way I understand that passage, but you are welcome to your opinion.

 

[Aunty Jane]

I am white, 74 years old, living comfortably, and I have it much better than most. I regard this as more good fortune than good management.
I pray and read scripture daily, and attend Church weekly. Yet. I see the miseries of this world all around, many perpetrated by people who call themselves Christians, and I question the capacity of humans for such inhumanity towards others. In my own life, all I see is failure, inadequacy and embarrassment.
Such memories haunt me, and I look forward to the end, but the thought of any interminable existence to follow where such memories would continue horrifies me.
I don't worship for any other reason than that's what I am commanded to do. The only "reward" I seek is eternal oblivion. If this is not an option, as far as I am concerned, it would be better that I had never been born.

I don’t live far from you, and am of similar age….in my youth, I too struggled with the thought of life after death with the painful memories of the trials of this life following me. Man’s inhumanity to man, especially when perpetrated by so called Christians also disturbed me, but I felt the need to leave a church system that taught such things, and who engaged in political conflicts and supported the bloodshed.

I searched for the reasons why these things were so…..I knew there was a God, but I did not find him in Christendom….and I did not find church teachings to be in line with what the Bible taught. I searched elsewhere for the truth and found it. I have had all my questioned answered from the Bible and feel confident about the future, knowing that it is in God’s hands….not man’s.

Would it surprise you to discover that death is the end of conscious life, because the Bible teaches that there is no immortal soul that survives the death of the body, taking a soul into another kind of life.
At death it says a soul goes into a state of suspended animation for now. Contrary to popular belief, there is no consciousness in death. (Eccl 9:5, 10)

The Bible teaches resurrection which is a return to life, not a continuation of it. Jesus demonstrated what a resurrection is in John 11: 11-14. See where Lazarus was when Jesus raised him back to life.

 

[Taken]

It seems I am confined, through no choice of my own, to live for eternity, either in heaven or hell. Is it bad that I don’t find that appealing? Certainly no one finds the prospect of hell appealing. The heaven part sounds really nice, but for eternity? If I don’t have a choice, what about my free will?

Of course you have FREEWILL.
God is Just.

I prefer to die and that be the end of it.

And so it Will be for you.
No eternal life.
Dead, Lifeless and forgotten.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I am white, 74 years old, living comfortably, and I have it much better than most. I regard this as more good fortune than good management.
I pray and read scripture daily, and attend Church weekly. Yet. I see the miseries of this world all around, many perpetrated by people who call themselves Christians, and I question the capacity of humans for such inhumanity towards others. In my own life, all I see is failure, inadequacy and embarrassment.
Such memories haunt me, and I look forward to the end, but the thought of any interminable existence to follow where such memories would continue horrifies me.
I don't worship for any other reason than that's what I am commanded to do. The only "reward" I seek is eternal oblivion. If this is not an option, as far as I am concerned, it would be better that I had never been born.

You truly are sad. You do not know the Joy God wishes you to have.

In this life there will be insufferable misery. Eternity for the redeemed will be nothing but eternal bliss!

 

[Aunty Jane]

It seems I am confined, through no choice of my own, to live for eternity, either in heaven or hell.

Nowhere does the Bible say that these are the choices that man was given….it was “life or death“ that was put before Adam and also before Israel...(Deut 30:19)…not “heaven or hell”. Mankind were designed for everlasting life on earth, and earth was carefully designed and prepared for living “souls”, which included the animals who were to share life with us here.

Is it bad that I don’t find that appealing? Certainly no one finds the prospect of hell appealing.

The concept of an eternal hell of suffering was designed to give control through fear, which is something for which the Catholic Church was infamous. This belief was carried over when the Reformation took place, and the wayward daughters left home, taking their false Catholic doctrines with them.

God gave limits to life that were for our benefit, and in the beginning there was nothing to fear at all. Free will was a gift, but it was conditional, because of the propensity for abuse. Our Creator had to put limits to the freedom he gave his children, just as we do for our children, not because we want to stifle them, but because we love them and want to protect them.

Obedience to one command was all that was necessary in order for life to continue in peace and prosperity under God’s blessing of the human race, who were made in his image….for all eternity, human life was to be lived right here on earth. That command carried no hardship for our first parents, whatsoever. If they had obeyed that command, none of the hardships of this life would have ever taken place. But God saw that he could not just tell them that obedience was beneficial, he had to show them, (and all of us) where disobedience leads….have we got the message yet?

The heaven part sounds really nice, but for eternity?

If we have a purpose in life, and a passion for learning, some even in this world have dedicated their whole lives to just one aspect of science or a skill of some sort...never losing their interest or becoming bored with uncovering new and exciting discoveries about that one branch of science or increasing a skill that we love….imagine being able to learn about hundreds of thousands of scientific subjects and having no limits to our brain capacity and a desire to learn all we can about the world around us? Imagine being able to undertake any task with confidence in our ability to learn new things….in mastering a range of musical instruments, or skill in creativity…..?
How long did it take the human race to achieve the technological advancements that we now take for granted? What new skills will eternity give us…..? It’s limitless.

If I don’t have a choice, what about my free will?

You had no choice in your own existence…..parents don’t choose what children they will have in natural conception, and we are individually a miracle, since the chances of our being here are extremely remote. Think of all the eggs your mother was born with, and the hundreds of millions of sperm that could have produced your siblings over their lifetime….very few of them were given a chance to live…and yet here we are talking on the internet, each a walking miracle, keen to understand the reasons and limitations of our own existence, and wondering why the world we were born into is the opposite of our expectations for the most part.

Free will is only beneficial when it does not impose or impede the free will of others. This is the lesson we are all painfully learning, but unless we see the results of the abuse of this gift, we will never be able to see the benefits of obedience to our Father, who only wants the best for us.
He could have just created us all to be robotic and go through the motions of doing good, but unless it is a choice…it has no value. Love must be the motivator and no one…not even God can force a free willed individual to love him.

 

[TiredSoul]

I don’t live far from you, and am of similar age….in my youth, I too struggled with the thought of life after death with the painful memories of the trials of this life following me. Man’s inhumanity to man, especially when perpetrated by so called Christians also disturbed me, but I felt the need to leave a church system that taught such things, and who engaged in political conflicts and supported the bloodshed.

I searched for the reasons why these things were so…..I knew there was a God, but I did not find him in Christendom….and I did not find church teachings to be in line with what the Bible taught. I searched elsewhere for the truth and found it. I have had all my questioned answered from the Bible and feel confident about the future, knowing that it is in God’s hands….not man’s.

Would it surprise you to discover that death is the end of conscious life, because the Bible teaches that there is no immortal soul that survives the death of the body, taking a soul into another kind of life.
At death it says a soul goes into a state of suspended animation for now. Contrary to popular belief, there is no consciousness in death. (Eccl 9:5, 10)

The Bible teaches resurrection which is a return to life, not a continuation of it. Jesus demonstrated what a resurrection is in John 11: 11-14. See where Lazarus was when Jesus raised him back to life.

Thank you. What you say is comforting. I have to admit to not having a clue about what lies beyond this life, and although I am re-reading Revelation for further clues, I'm not sure that I will be much wiser when I have finished. In the end, the choice will not be mine, and I just have to trust that God, knowing me better than I know myself, will make the right decision for me. Hopefully, that will include a memory wipe of my inadequacies.

You truly are sad. You do not know the Joy God wishes you to have.

In this life there will be insufferable misery. Eternity for the redeemed will be nothing but eternal bliss!

My problems are insignificant compared to what others have to face. I am so blessed to exist on this particular patch of dirt, and I thank God accordingly. However, I feel that I don't deserve the privileges that I have, much less eternal bliss.

I don't believe that a human being with any ounce of compassion and who can see what is going on in the world can be unaffected by an awareness of the intense suffering that others are forced to endure or the feeling of helplessness that accompanies such awareness. I do what I can to help, but it's never enough. Sadly, it will never be enough.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

My problems are insignificant compared to what others have to face. I am so blessed to exist on this particular patch of dirt, and I thank God accordingly. However, I feel that I don't deserve the privileges that I have, much less eternal bliss.

I don't believe that a human being with any ounce of compassion and who can see what is going on in the world can be unaffected by an awareness of the intense suffering that others are forced to endure or the feeling of helplessness that accompanies such awareness. I do what I can to help, but it's never enough. Sadly, it will never be enough.

None of us deserve what God gives us because of Jesus! we just must receive them from the hands of a loving and merciful God.

And yes, it will never be enough. We can either allow the suffering to overwhelm us and put us in some funk, or we can accept the call of God and do what He wishes to do through us and rejoice that He loves us.

The poor will always be and we do what we can. We have to accept that and move on. Otherwise we will be trapped by the devils deception and be meloncholy for years.

 

[Jack]

"What if I don’t want eternal life?"

The ONLY option is eternity in Hell fire!