Christian Living

Unhappy in Heaven?

by Dale Buchanan 
08/07/26
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There’s an old Negro Spiritual titled, “Everybody talkin’ about heaven ain’t going there.”

And I would venture to say there are a lot of people talking about heaven that don’t want to go there. And there are a lot of people talking about heaven who have never experienced the life-changing experience of conversion to Jesus.

 I am amazed at times when I hear about the deaths and funerals of some well-known people. They had little or nothing to do with church, or Christ, or spiritual things. But now that they have died, the media, close friends, or relatives talk about them being “up there” in heaven.

 Over many years, I have conducted or attended many funerals. I watch as elderly folks who have not been in church for years file by to look at the “departed” one. Their faces register no sorrow, only hardness or coldness. I wonder if they are thinking, “It won’t be long before they lay me down in a casket.”

 People casually think everybody is going to heaven  - if there is a heaven.

 There would be a lot of folks who would be unhappy if they were actually allowed in heaven. None of the things they lived for would be there. On the other hand, they would be terrified to go to a genuine hell.

 Riches, fame, power, and influence would no longer mean anything.

The fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars will not be allowed entrance in heaven. Anyone who defileth, worketh abomination, or maketh a lie cannot enter. (Revelation 21:8, 27 KJV). Those who take away from the Word of God or add to it will have no part in the book of life. (Revelation 22:18-19 KJV). ” But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:3-6 KJV)

Paul adds to this list in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 KJV. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

If you fit any of the categories above, you would not be happy in heaven. 

 Sin is not allowed in heaven. If sin were allowed, heaven would not be heaven. It would just be another place of strife, violence, and debauchery. It would not be a place to look forward to joyfully.

You would probably not enjoy the wonderful things of heaven either. The grandest feature of heaven is that Christ is there. We would always be in His presence. There will be no tears, death, sorrow, crying, or pain. (Revelation 21:4). We will rejoice together with our saved loved ones who have gone on before us to heaven. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). We would always be bringing honor and glory to God (Revelation 21:24), and we would all be serving and worshiping Him (Revelation 22:3 and Revelation 4:8,10-11). All races would worship the Lord together. (Revelation 5:9). All of us will bow the knee to Jesus in loving submission, worship, and obedience to Him.  (Philippians 2:9-11). If you don’t want to love, worship, and serve Jesus now, how could you ever be happy doing this for eternity? 

God removes sin and selfishness from heaven. We will have perfect bodies and a perfect nature, walking in unity with the Lord. (Philippians 3:20-21). We will be like Jesus because we will see Him as He is. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 KJV).

Purposely, I left out a significant part of Scripture five paragraphs back. Here is the entire thought from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Many of the people in the church of Corinth had been fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers, etc. But they had trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, and He had transformed them. They were truly “born again” or “born from above.” They were new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV). They were truly made in heaven.

They were now children of God, whose lives were drastically changed – not to earn their way to heaven, but because their salvation was secure and they were on their way there. With their old character, they would have been unhappy misfits and excluded from heaven. But now, because of the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, they had repented of their sins, trusted Christ, and were on their way to a happy, joy-filled eternity in heaven with Christ.

If you have not yet repented and turned to Jesus for salvation, would you please do that today? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is waiting to welcome you into His family, and there will be great joy in heaven because of you. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7 KJV).

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11 KJV).