True salvation does not come from a fear of death or a fear of hell. Some people’s relationship with Christ was originally sparked by a fear of hell or a desire for paradise. A relationship with Jesus ought to change this. True salvation isn’t founded upon a fear of hell. True salvation is founded upon a desire, not just for heaven, but for what heaven is. The idea of heaven as human, earthly paradise is a shallow and absurd view of heaven. While heaven is paradise, it is not an earthly paradise. Palm trees and crystal clear waters? Maybe, I’ve never been to heaven. But I do believe that heaven closely resembles this earth that we live in today. A desire for heaven doesn’t lead to true salvation. We ought to have a desire for what heaven is. Heaven is the full presence and glory of Jesus Christ our Savior. Heaven is truth and light that is only found in His presence. The fear of hell, while an average beginning to a relationship with God, is a shallow start to Christianity. It ought to evolve into a desire for what heaven is, the full presence and glory of the One who saved us.
