Popping The Question

If you died today, do you know for sure you would go to heaven?

This question is a popular one asked by Christians to non-believers in order to open a door to sharing the Gospel. I have found myself pondering it lately. If a strategy is popular, does that mean it's the best or most effective? Or, does that make it right even?

...do you know for sure you would go to heaven?

First and foremost, sharing the Gospel in any way possible is commendable, desirable, and necessary as the lost are going to hell, eternally separated from their Maker. But at the risk of ruffling some feathers and in an attempt to share some thoughts, I've been thinking about the following...

In opening a door to share the Gospel with an unbeliever, there seems to be some flaws with employing this question as an ideal strategy. To start, this question implies a few things: that the hearer knows about a heaven and hell, that heaven is a desirable place to go, and maybe too it's implied that somehow something they do, or don't do, can get them there.

Let's say that this person does have some sort of understanding of the above unsaid implications hidden in the "do you know where you'd go" question. To follow this question up with a presentation of the Gospel I believe poses possible opportunity for misconceptions, even deceptions.

Let's assume the person wants to go to heaven, and knows the alternative, hell, is an undesirable place to go. So how do I get there?? To use terms and language that most are used to, one response might be: Well, you see, God sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross for your sins, because He loved you. You must repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus, and He will forgive your sins, and one day you will be with Him in heaven.


Sure! Sounds good! Let's do it! Typically what would follow is praying "the prayer" with the unbeliever and they'd be in! Ticket punched and I'm off to heaven, right? But that's part of the problem, many think Jesus to the great ticket puncher.

Let's go further...

Here's my issue: the very question that was originally asked sets the listener up for coming to God on a foundationally wrong basis. Because the original question was "Do you know if you would go to heaven when you die," heaven is the implied desirable end. In other words, my main goal is to get to heaven, so next follows what I need to do to get there.

So what's wrong with this? Sounds good, right?

The chief end of our lives is not heaven. Jesus didn't come solely to "punch our ticket" to heaven. God the Father sent Jesus that humanity might be reconciled to the Holy God they rejected, because He loved them and for His glory.

The most beautiful part of the Gospel isn't heaven - it's God Himself! That I, as a fallen, sinful person, can be reconciled to my Maker through His Son Jesus. That I would turn from sin and follow and walk intimately with Jesus the rest of my life.

Jesus is our goal! Not heaven... as someone once said, it is Jesus who makes heaven, heaven. Without God in heaven, what would heaven be?

The "where would you go" question cheapens the Gospel and makes Jesus a means to an end (the supposed end being heaven) when Jesus is the end Himself. We can know God and walk with Him. How wonderful! Heaven is more a byproduct, a glorious part of putting our faith in Christ.

So, if popping "the question" starts an unbeliever off on the wrong foot and the wrong motivation, what do we do?

Don't know.

Each situation and person is different. Pray about it. Follow the Holy Spirit. See what He has to say and how He leads. God knows each person and what they need.

Let's share His love today!