Letter 75

Dear Shay,

Hello! And a very Merry Christmas to you! Anyway, on to my question. It comes with a story so let me start the story first. The other day my best friend said. "Whoever does not say Jesus is their savior and lord will go to hell." So my other friend asked if they were going to hell because they believed in Jesus but not that He is their savior and Lord. So my best friend said, "Yes, unless you decide later on that you want to change your mind." Well, I don't know which is true... but I do believe the same thing my first friend said. My girlfriend did not understand how someone could kill a person, ask for forgiveness, accept Jesus as their savior and then get to go to heaven just like all of the other believers. I told her that God is one that forgives and forgives and forgives some more because God loves us. The other thing that my friend asked me was, "Why should we believe in Christianity over any other religion? How are we supposed to know which one is the one that is stating the truth?" I honestly didn't know, but I told her that I personally felt that it was right for me. I look up to Jesus as a role model and believing in Him improves my life. She called me a dork and laughed at me, but what I said was true so I just let it go. I still don't know how to answer my friend's question, though. Could you help me out?

Well, here’s the problem I always had with the whole “eternal punishment if you don’t believe in Jesus” thing. What did all of the people that lived before Jesus do? Did they all go to hell? Did all the good, Loving, peaceful people that never hurt a fly get handed eternal damnation because they didn’t believe in a savior that wasn’t even born yet? And of course the obvious answer to that must be no. God MUST have been in the saving business long before Jesus came into town.

So, my belief has always been that Jesus showed us the way to do it, and if you believe in goodness, Love, and peace, then you are believing in Him. I’ve always thought that a conscious decision and effort to do good and Loving works was the same as Loving Jesus. Granted, if you want to REALLY understand how to do those Loving and peaceful works then studying Jesus’ life and believing in Him can only help you, but people who manage to learn how to do it in other ways are not guaranteed an eternity of pain. HOWEVER…

I have noticed a MUCH BIGGER change in people that accept Jesus than don’t. If you truly want to change your life for the better, than Loving Him and following Him will help you MUCH MORE than ANYTHING else. I know from observing my own life, that once I began to really believe in Him, things began to RAPIDLY turn around for me. I began to really see the Love, and really see the blessings in my life. I began to feel good about my place in the world, and I began to really Love the people around me.

So, in answer to your question, I believe that people who don’t believe in Jesus don’t have a first-class ticket to hell. However, if they want to know the TRUE path to HEAVEN…then Jesus is really the best way. AND…understand that there ARE areas in between. There IS a place called purgatory, and there ARE levels to it. So, if you want to avoid the “in-between” and really taste the Love of heaven, then a belief in Jesus is the best way.

Also, in regards to the forgiveness part of your question, you answered it yourself. God is a god who forgives and forgives and forgives some more. Jesus, while He was on Earth, showed us that again and again and again. All who came to Him asking for forgivess of sins received it! Everyone! Anyone with the desire to Love Him and believe in Him was forgiven! That is part of his role as savior of this world! He is there for the people who are lost, who are sick, who feel hopeless about life! He is there to take on our misery, to take on our pain, and to escort us to a world free from sin! That is what He is there for! His Love, His mercy, and His miraculous works show us the true face of God! And you need go no farther than the closest dedicated Christian in order to understand that! Any true Lover of Christ will help you, pray for you, and give you the shirt off of your back if you needed it! THAT is proof enough. The truth is in the legacy. The truth is in the Love. And if your friend still has doubts, then explain to him/her what you would do for them if they ever got into trouble. Then explain why you would do it. My dad had that type of talk with me when I was a teenager, and nothing convinced me more. Knowing that my dad, a believer in Christ, would always give me a bed to sleep on and food to eat NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES....truly gave me insight into the mercy and the forgiveness of Christ.

Christ touches people in their heart of hearts. And if your friend has any other doubts, tell him/her to come to this website, write me, and I'll personally explain things to them.

Love, Shay