I don’t believe in gravity. If I say this, does that make it true? Does it nullify the law of gravity? Suppose I jump off the Empire State Building. On the way down, all is going well. There’s a great view and a cool breeze. See there, I don’t believe in gravity and life is good. About 50 floors down, someone sticks her head out a window and asks, “How’s it going?” I answer, “Great so far!”
Most people are not true atheists but acknowledge there is at least a higher being. But most people live as practical atheists. They say they believe but it does not make any difference in how they live.
Now back to my carefree life near the 50th floor. Obviously, in a couple of seconds I will hit the sidewalk. My carefree denial of gravity will abruptly end. That’s how you may be living life right now, “Great so far.” Whether you believe in God or not, God created you and you will answer to Him. There will be an abrupt end to your life.
You only have a few years or maybe days or hours left. But you will spend millions and billions and trillions of years in eternity. The Bible clearly states that there are only two destinations: heaven or hell.
Your destination does not depend on how good you are. Salvation cannot be earned. You are not good enough to go to heaven. You are a sinner before a holy God. Your life will not be compared to Hitler, but to the perfect person Jesus Christ.
The only way to heaven is to trust the forgiveness God offers by believing in His Son who died on a cross as your substitute to pay for your sinning on earth. You must put your faith in Him before you die.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27 ESV).
You are a citizen of heaven or a citizen of hell right now. Which are you?