The simple answer to the heaven-and-hell question is “Yes.” Either we are directing our lives toward what the Westminster Catechism calls our “chief end,” namely, “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever,” or we have turned away from a pattern of obedience to our Creator. In the former case, we are on our way to heaven; in the latter we face an eternal separation from the divine presence. To disagree with any of this is to dispute what the Bible clearly teaches and what the mainstream of the Christian tradition has always affirmed.

I not only fully endorse this perspective, I believe it is important to talk about it and preach it. This is a time when many believers want to emphasize the “this-worldly” aspects of the life of faith. And that does need to be emphasized. But so does the fact that each of us has an eternal destiny, and what we are committed to here and now has immensely serious implications for what we can expect beyond death.

I have to add, though, that while I am definitely not an “all will be saved in the end” universalist, I do place a strong emphasis on divine generosity and mystery. I believe that trusting in Jesus is the only way to heaven, but I also believe that Jesus has his own way of getting through to people. The heaven that I look forward to will be a place of many wonderful surprises!