How to Get a Ticket to Heaven for Those Who Deny God
If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:3)
Regularly, I try to put myself in the shoes of those without faith. I read articles and the occasional book from people who cannot accept God. While I try to understand their point of view, I just cannot relate to their mindset or experience. Sadly, they cannot connect to our mindset and experience either. It can feel like a chasm beyond our ability to build a bridge. The abyss creates pain in most families. We love each other, but what one values the most in life is what the other loved one values the least. The distance is an existential. OUCH!
We, in the church, have often been taught that life apart from faith excludes us from the Kingdom of God and eternal life. If that remains our theological premise, the bridge will never have strong enough support to extend from one side to the other. If, however, we attempt a paradigm shift and consider God does not want to cast his children away for eternity. If we believe God doesn’t care for those outside the community of faith, why should we respect or even care for those outside God’s acceptable ones?
Rather than fall into the sad game of “who’s in and who’s out,” we can hand control over to God and simply trust. Trust God’s mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation; if we love our loved ones who are unable or unwilling to acknowledge God, how much more will our perfect God care for us and all others? The architectural marvel of divine bridge building comes when we treat one another as valued.
We cannot earn our salvation or make enough faith to get our eternal card punched. God is more compassionate and loving than the god we try to recreate in our image. The chasm we see is an illusion. The distance we see is what we create. God does not need a bridge because the space is a single step. We cannot bring people to Christ. Only God can bring people to a divine, lasting relationship. Today, prayerfully ask God to take control of our loved ones and their commitments rather than worry about those you love refusing God's invitation. When we give power back to God, where it belongs, we are freed from the pain of responsibility. I trust God to care for all our loved ones even more than we do. If we give our unfaithful loved ones a free ticket, I believe God will make room in heaven for them as well.