There is a heaven and there is a hell. Every person is destined for one or the other. There is no more sobering or perspective-giving truth. Both are real. Both are forever. One is a future to long for. The other a future to avoid at all costs. They both overshadow every moment of this age. This is the defining distinction among people – of far greater significance than age, gender or ethnicity.
Eternal realities dominated Jesus’ thoughts. The future kingdom controls the Sermon on the Mount (5:1-12, 20-22, 29-30; 6:19-21; 7:13-14, 21-23). In it, Jesus warns: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear if out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your embers than that your whole body is thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members that that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30).
The themes regularly return through Matthew, and the other gospels. Jesus lived his life under these great and terrible future realities, and they make sense of his priorities.
To rid Christianity of its eternal framework requires a massive culling of the teaching of Jesus and his apostles.
In light of the twin realities of heaven and hell, what truly matters now?
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