| God gave us a choice between spiritual life and death | | | | exists. They say, "How could a loving God send |
| "so He could have people on His side," says Damian, | | | | anyone to hell?" Remember one thing about God, |
| 9. Sounds like we're picking teams for a giant | | | | says Lauren, 11: "He's fair." And Scott says if there |
| volleyball or baseball game. Do you think God cares | | | | were no hell, "there'd be no point in life on earth as |
| which team we choose? | | | | we'd all be going to heaven." |
| "It doesn't matter to Him," says Garrett, 8. Kristin, 9, | | | | This life/death question has a point, but what is it? |
| agrees. She says God gave us a choice "so we can | | | | "God wanted to test what He made," says Cory. |
| do what we want with our life." And Wes, 11, | | | | The real issue, according to Lacey, 9, is faith: "God |
| believes it's a good thing that there are two teams | | | | wanted to see our faith in Him." |
| because "heaven is too heavenly for sinners." | | | | God gave us a choice "because He didn't want to |
| Lots of people know just how Wes feels. Heaven - | | | | force everyone to love Him," says Mariah, 8. Forced |
| with all that imagined singing and harp playing - turns | | | | love isn't love at all. "God wanted to see," Shelby, 10, |
| them off. They say they don't want to go to | | | | says, "if we loved Him enough to choose to live with |
| heaven because their friends won't be there. But | | | | Him." |
| what if separation from God is like solitary | | | | Well, if this is a test, what if we all flunk? What if we |
| confinement? Then what? | | | | all choose the wrong team? What would God do |
| "We would realize our mistakes," says Stephanie, 11. | | | | then? Don't worry, says Matthew, 9, "He's merciful." |
| By then, it might be a little late. | | | | God designed a plan for us even when we chose the |
| People who joke that they want to go to hell should | | | | wrong team so that he could display something |
| think again, says Allie, 9, because "no one should | | | | about himself. Luke, 10, says, "It would be showing |
| choose death." That sounds good, Allie, but look | | | | us grace." |
| around. Every day people smoke, use harmful drugs | | | | Okay, but how can we get on the right team? "Jesus |
| and drink alcohol to excess even though they know | | | | died on the cross," Candace, 10, says, "and now we |
| it will cause health problems and possibly shorten their | | | | can choose to go to heaven." Martin Luther described |
| lives. | | | | the faith by which we embrace God's team as "the |
| Those people are killing their bodies. If they have | | | | hand of a beggar reaching out to receive the gift." |
| such difficulty with the more immediate choice for | | | | So the reason God granted us a choice between |
| physical life versus physical death, it's understandable | | | | spiritual life and death according to Casey, 12, is "to |
| that they'll have an even tougher time choosing | | | | teach us that we can't live without Him." Maybe |
| spiritual life over spiritual death because the | | | | that's why so many people are struggling in this |
| consequences seem so distant and intangible. | | | | earthly life; they're finding out through their mistakes |
| Not to worry, says Kristen, 10: "God wanted to give | | | | that they need God. Life--on Earth and after |
| us all a chance at life." Yes, says Martha, 7, "Jesus | | | | death--goes better with God because He is the |
| wants us to have eternal life." | | | | source of life. |
| Second Peter 3:9 says, God "is patient with you, not | | | | Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No |
| wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to | | | | one comes to the Father except through Me" (John |
| repentance." | | | | 14:6). |
| Some people distort this truth and don't believe hell | | | | |