Does Everyone Go to Heaven?

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:7-11

The future judgement will seperate people into two distinct groups. The first group has been described in the previous post. They are heavenly-minded and the focus of their lives is the honour that God gives those who love and obey him.

We now turn to the second group. They are also described in three main ways. Firstly, they are "self-seeking". This is the opposite of "seeking glory". These people are not preoccupied with the glory of God. Quite the opposite: they are preoccupied with themselves - their own lives, interests, goals, ambitions and priorities. In describing these people as "self-seeking" Paul is not saying that they are "selfish" in the modern sense of the word. They are capable of affection, love and sacrifice. Nonetheless, the fundamental orintation of their lives is upon themselves not God.

The question is - does that describe your life?

The second characteristic of this group of people is that they "reject the truth." Again, Paul is not saying that they do nothing but lie. The truth he is describing is the truth of the gospel that he is proclaiming. The gospel is often called simply "the truth" by the writers of the new testament, even as Jesus describes himself as "the truth" in John's gospel.

Again, the question to ask is - am I rejecting the truth of the gospel ( the message that is the theme of Pauls letter to the Romans)?

The third and final characteristic of this group is that they "follow evil". To put this another way, sin is natural for them. They follow a course of life that is sin-centred. This description does not mean that such people are as evil as they can possibly be nor that they do nothing other than sin. It does mean, however, that sin is natural to them - it is in their nature to sin.

Is this you?

The outcome for this group of people is quite clear: "There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil."

Two groups. Two sets of characteristics. Two very different eternal outcomes.