And now being chronically fatigued has made it even harder. According to the Bible, only good people go to heaven, but since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2–3), there are no truly good people. My sense from what you write, and from your earlier comments here on Spiritual Insights for Everyday Life, is that life has been difficult and painful for you. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. I just want to say thank you for this wonderful article. Failed product lines and failed ventures often teach much more about what works and what doesn’t than successful ones. As Swedenborg says, living a life that leads to heaven is really not all that hard. This is too big a question to answer in a comment. I like chatting here – thank you. He was still thinking only of himself and his own family, and not of anyone else. The more we meet hardship by praising God and showing faith that he is in charge, the closer we will be to him. Our ego, our prior training and experience, and yes, the evil spirits who are with us are continually fighting against our acceptance of the easy yoke and the path that is not so hard. EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, There will be many parts of ourselves—parts that we may hold onto dearly—that will have to be blown away like the chaff so that only the wheat of a good heart and mind remain in us. It’s not. By a simple prayer of faith ask Jesus Christ to come into your life—and He will. When our struggles are over, we will have become people, and then angels, who are able to do the heavy lifting that God needs in order to pull this world of ours out of its darkness and into the light. Tom Hoopes Tom Hoopes is writer in residence at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. If we’re experiencing this in our life here on earth, then hell already has its hooks in us. Unfortunately, we usually get going in reverse in our younger years. Jesus then describes the dialogue that those who want to be saved will have with the Master. The “fires of hell” are the figurative fire of the evil and destructive desires of the people who live there. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’, “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’, “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’, “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”. He was born of wealthy, educated stock, and lived a relatively privileged life. We may believe that because we have such difficulty living the way we believe we should, that means we will inevitably end up in hell rather than heaven. “Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”, When difficulties and sufferings come in life, we can easily decide that God doesn’t love us. Perhaps your parents tore you down and told you that you were no good. Take this quiz and you can see just how likely you are to end up in heaven. It shows that you are on a path that can lead to heaven. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’, “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. . But once our own efforts have failed, God can finally begin to succeed spiritually in our lives. Sunday, Aug. 21, is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). But when we reach the point at which we realize that we have given it our best shot, and we have failed, that is precisely when we are finally ready to turn our life over to God. Was Jesus referring to a literal camel and a literal needle, or to a gate that was known as the Needle’s Eye? We spend a few decades, or maybe even a century here. Amplified Bible. The short answer is: It’s both easy and hard to get to heaven. In the meantime – your mates will be laughing and calling to you to join them and in their fun – they will wonder why you are going the way you are when it is so much EASIER to go the other way…until they see the falls. In fact, both Jesus and Swedenborg spend a great deal of time talking about the conflict, pain, and struggle of life. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Ezekiel 18: God’s Message of Hope . Meanwhile, in response to your comment, I invite you to read these two articles: I hope these are helpful to you. The rich and wealthy might think I don’t need Jesus I have money. But when life is hard, those words ring hollow. I’m sorry not to approve your comment, but per our comments policy, please do not leave comments in ALL CAPS. Jesus’ answer is essentially: Yes, only a few are saved. Among other things, hell is a state of separation and alienation from God and from loving and caring human society. It shows that you have not given up and given in. It seems the best I can do is to say Lord have mercy on me, a sinner. Why does God let so much suffering happen to innocent people? Original Question: Is it hard to go to heaven? But Jesus himself told us that this is not necessarily so in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. In fact, by the time he was fifty, he was all set to be a brilliant, celebrated scholar who would be a household name for his political, scientific, and philosophical achievements. This article brought to light that the path to our Heavenly Father isn’t an easy one, it’s a very complex and humbling one at that. The hardest times of our lives are the times when we are making the agonizing decisions in our heart that will determine whether we go up or down, and what sort of person we will be. This article is a response to a spiritual conundrum submitted by a reader. The first reading from Isaiah begins with these words: “Thus says the Lord: I know their works and their thoughts.” Then it explains how the Lord is gathering foreigners from all over the world to his side. Rather, it offers a way to rise above the evil even while we may still be experiencing it. . Then Jesus comes along and says, “My yoke is easy.”, And Swedenborg comes along and says, “It’s not so hard to get to heaven.”. Then thank Him for loving you so much that He willingly gave His life to provide the gift of salvation for you. Your friends will be cruising along enjoying the sunshine and laying back going with the current. You struggle and feel pain and failure because you are alive spiritually. The same is true in business. A popular illustration of this is the “Footprints” poem. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Change ), (Click the cover image or title link to review or purchase on Amazon). We may feel like our life has come to an end. Perhaps you were mistreated and abused. The solution is not to deny the existence of evil, and attempt to drown it out with positive thinking, love, and light. Rather, what they offer is a path through the reality of pain and suffering toward something better. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. SubscribeStart your Register subscription today. What you are experiencing is what the Bible calls “temptation.” Temptation is not so much about wanting to do something we know is wrong. I pray that I make it. The hard part is that we resist living in that easy way. The answer to your final question is similar. But it will be nothing we can’t handle with the “engine” of God powering our lives. And, is it possible for people on the world of spirits/heaven/hell to send you signs? Cape Cod Offers Spiritual Oases for Vacationers, There and Back Again Through Tolkien’s Library, Lost Treasure Rediscovered: ‘Month of St. Joseph: For the Children of Mary’, Phoenix Bishop Defends Speaking Out on Communion: ‘The Care of Souls Is Our First Concern’, Benedictine­ College Raises the Bar in Fight Against Porn Addiction. Echoing Jesus’ words, Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) wrote, “It is not so hard to lead a heaven-bound life as people think it is” (Heaven and Hell #528). Its still super hard to be good when you see the world as the enemy. Mass Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1, 2; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30. Take the quiz. It’s the same for us spiritually. I can’t say why life is hard and painful for you, and why heaven seems unlikely. If You Think You're Going to Hell, Please Read This First. Wow — these people who wanted heaven are “evildoers.” How can we avoid their fate? U.S. Events Reflect Soon-to-Be Saint’s Legacy, BOOK PICK: ‘Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages’. Even if we’re driven by selfishness at first, we must roll up our sleeves and “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (see Philippians 2:12–13). These days it is unfashionable to talk about evil spirits influencing us. I had been struggling with the doubt of my salvation. Why is the man in actual pain while God just watches him suffer? I sense from your comments and your conundrum that you do struggle intensely with the feeling that you have failed to live a good life, and that you will keep failing to live a good life, and that therefore you will most likely end out in hell. Yes, the path to eternal life is a complex and humbling one. However, the Bible teaches that the only way to get to heaven is by becoming a Christian, which you do by accepting Jesus as your Savior. A reader named Rob is not so sure. But as soon as anyone in the family defies the family and opposes anything it does, you will see just how much they really “love” their family members. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Sinful and unable to stand before a holy God ( Rom the article: “ I n't. Talk about evil spirits influencing us loving you so much suffering happen innocent. 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