Column: Across the Pastor’s Desk, by the Rev. David Hernes

Again, I want to say some things that may push us Christians to think about what we believe or say we believe.

Is there anyone you would hate to see in heaven? If so, what might you do if you walked into heaven and found that person there? Or, if not that person, others like that person? Might you feel like turning around and walking out? What might any of us think and feel and do if we should find some folks like Osama bin Laden there?

According to Jesus, not everyone will be there. But we Christians do say that Jesus died for every sin and every sinner of all time — don’t we? And I ask myself, what does that mean? And I can’t figure it out. (And probably don’t need to.) But it seems to me that it means that I need to have room for everyone in my heart. Which means that I also need to have room in my “theology.” Which means I must allow that there is room in heaven for everyone — even the ones who reject what Christ did for them Which means, I think, that I need to say it. Even if it makes us uncomfortable. I dare not exclude any sin or any sinner that Jesus included in His cosmic sacrificial death.

Undoubtably, there will be people in heaven whom I would have rejected. Whom I think “unworthy.” Whose sins have been “too bad.” But one thing is very clear in the Christian gospel: No one “earns” heaven. If any did, the death of Jesus would have been unnecessary. Can you imagine some people getting into heaven because they are “good enough” and others needing the forgiveness of Jesus? That would cut the heart right out of the Christian faith!

So how could heaven possibly be heaven with my having my “old human nature” thoughts and feelings?

The only thing I can figure out is that I need a radical change in my deepest being. God needs to take from me my very human ways of figuring and calculating and comparing and judging. I need God to give me a Christian heart. A heart like Jesus’ who prayed, “Father, forgive them. They are blind and stubborn, and hate-filled. They haven’t a clue what they are doing.”

Heaven will not be heaven because it will be celestial golf courses or heavenly malls, or paradise island weather. Heaven will be heaven because we will be at peace with God, and with all other humans, and with ourselves. (That will take miracles, won’t it?) Which means that sin in all of us will have been destroyed by the powerful cross of Jesus.

No doubt, heaven will be full of surprises — wonderful surprises.

I like this poem called “Judge not,” with an unknown author:

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven’s door;

Not by the beauty of it all,

Not the lights or the decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp;

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from 7th grade,

Who swiped my lunch change twice,

Next to him was my old neighbor,

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting nicely on cloud nine,

And looking very well.

I nudged Jesus, “What’s the deal?

I want to hear your take.

How’d all these sinners get up here?

God must’ve made mistakes!

“And why are all so quiet?

So somber — give me a clue!”

“Hush, child,” said He. “They’re all in shock;

None thought they’d be seeing you!”