Question 14 – If God is love, will everyone go to heaven?

There is a relatively widespread opinion that goes something like this: "If God exists, then He will ultimately accept everyone. After all, God is love. It's just those fanatical Christians and sects scaring people with hell and brainwashing their flock." Do you identify with this opinion?

I believe that many hold this view out of entirely pure and sincere motives. Perhaps they believe that God is absolute love, incapable of any anger. However, the God who revealed Himself to humanity through the Bible is not like that. Not because He does not love. The Bible clearly declares that "God is love." God loves His creation. He is not a stern, scowling old man waiting for us to sin so He can punish us. He is not indifferent to us. After all, He proved it quite clearly:

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. " (Romans 5:8)

Heaven

God is merciful and faithful. So why doesn't He just turn a blind eye and let all people into His presence, into what is known as "heaven"? If that were the case, then He would be a God of similarly flawed qualities as we humans are, or else an unjust God. Simply put, He would be a God who ignores evil and who is indifferent to it in the least case.
The God who reveals Himself in the Bible, however, possesses love and mercy as well as another very important characteristic (nature). He is just. He cannot be bribed, nor can He be manipulated. He is holy, pure, and absolutely perfect. Nothing impure can enter His presence. He is also capable of becoming righteously and terrifyingly angry. This God established a law that states:

"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)

In other words, every transgression against God's law must be punished. This means death (primarily spiritual, but also physical). Therefore, God cannot simply overlook the billions of atrocities and perversions committed by people. He cannot just wave it off and say, "It's all right, I am love, I love them. They messed up, but it doesn't matter, I accept them..." God takes our transgressions very seriously, and they will not go unchecked. Have you ever done something wrong, anything that goes against God's law? Or conversely—have you ever not done something you should have? Then you have a problem. You have wronged God Himself. How will you resolve this with Him?

The verse mentioned above continues: 

"...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"

God did not have to deny His nature, which is love. He knew that He must punish us justly for our rebellion against Him, He must punish us justly. But how was it possible to arrange it so that we don't have to die and be rejected by God? God solved even this. He became human Himself to take upon Himself our very sins. He allowed Himself to be killed so that we might live. Through this act of unimaginable love, He fulfilled both aspects of His nature. He is just (paid for sin with death), but He is also merciful and loving, as proven by our salvation and His self-sacrifice.

Therefore, not everyone will spend eternity in God's presence. Yes, I believe it is God's desire, but not everyone accepts His way and forgiveness. If God is just, then He must deal with the guilt of every person He wishes to bring to Himself. Including the guilt caused by your sin, dear reader...

Jesus once said: 

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13–14)

Summation

God is love and does not want anyone to perish and be condemned. However, He is also just, which is why He takes our transgressions very seriously. For this reason, He will not leave sin unpunished. The hope that God will take 'even the average ones' to heaven is in vain. There are only two possibilities for dealing with the guilt caused by sin. Either we will be condemned ourselves and bear the consequences of our actions and rebellion against God, or we will allow God to bear our sins Himself.