What Would Make Heaven Hell?

Heaven. The word alone sounds like comfort. Endless peace. Reunions. Rest. Joy without sorrow. Life without loss. Every funeral reminds us of it. Every aching heart hopes for it.

If you asked the average person today what they believe about eternity, most would say something like, “Oh, sure, I believe in heaven.” And if you asked whether they expect to be there someday? The answer is usually, “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

We live in a culture that thinks heaven is the default destination. Good people go there. Nice people go there. Religious people go there. Decent people go there. Basically…anyone except the absolute worst.

Yet the Bible says something radically different.

Jesus Himself said:

> “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

Few.

Not many.

Few.

That is not because God is stingy with His grace. It’s because the human heart is too easily satisfied with this world.

The tragedy is this:

People want heaven.

They just don’t want it to be holy.

They want paradise without purity.

Joy without Jesus.

Comfort without surrender.

A kingdom without a King.

Yet heaven, real heaven, is not defined by golf courses and grandkids or mansions and golden streets. Heaven is defined by one breathtaking reality:

God is there.

Not dimly. Not partially.

But fully—gloriously—unfiltered.

He is the atmosphere.

He is the Light.

He is the song.

He is the joy.

He is the center of everything.

The Bible describes heaven like this:

> “…the dwelling place of God.”

Psalm 33:13

> “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.”

Revelation 22:3

So here is the great question:

Do you want God Himself?

Or do you just want the perks?

Because if your heart doesn’t delight in God now, how could you possibly delight in Him forever?

Holiness is not optional in heaven.

It is the very oxygen of that world.

A Fish Out of Water

Imagine a fish lifted out of the sea and placed high on a mountaintop. The sun shines beautifully. The view stretches for miles. The air is crisp and clean.

People would say, “Isn’t this glorious? Isn’t this paradise?”

But the fish would be dying.

Not because the mountain is flawed.

Not because anyone is cruel.

But because the fish was never transformed for that environment.

Likewise, the sinner unchanged would find heaven unbearable.

Not because heaven has fire.

But because heaven has holiness.

Jonathan Edwards once said heaven would be “no heaven to the unholy.”

He meant that the presence of God, which is pure joy to the redeemed, is pure agony to those who love their sin.

So here is the sobering reality:

Heaven may not be heaven to everyone.

For some, heaven would be hell.

God does not need to add flames or punishment.

Holiness itself would torment the unrepentant soul.

Why?

Because: What you love today reveals where you belong tomorrow.

Jesus said:

> “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21

If your treasure—your delight, your ultimate love—is anchored in the pleasures and pride of this world, then heaven would rip away everything you cherish. No ego. No idols. No applause. No indulgence. No sin.

Heaven is the place where the worship of God never stops. Where humility is the native language. Where self takes the lowest seat.

And some people would hate that.

Not everyone wants a forever of worship.

Not everyone wants a forever of righteousness.

Not everyone wants a forever of God’s will over their own.

We must face this staggering truth:

Heaven is a place of perfect holiness…

and holiness is the one thing the sinful heart cannot stand.

The Atmosphere of Heaven

Scripture says:

> “Without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:14

Holiness is not the ticket into heaven.

Holiness is the nature of heaven.

God will not adapt heaven to suit the sinner.

He will transform sinners to enjoy heaven.

That is salvation.

Not just forgiveness.

Not just escape from hell.

Transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

So here is the hard truth:

Heaven would be hell to a person who never learned to love God.

Imagine: • Someone who never prayed in this life…placed into eternal communion

• Someone who avoided Scripture…filled with the Word forever

• Someone who found holiness boring…surrounded by saints singing God’s glory

• Someone who resented obedience…now bowing joyfully before the throne

It would feel like suffocation.

Not because heaven is wrong.

Because the heart is wrong.

The Real Work of Grace

Jesus did not die simply to get you to heaven.