This article is written for everyone and anyone, even persons who are not really interested in religion. If you would prefer to read a detailed Roman Catholic theological explanation, see my article,
Treatise on Mystical Baptism. Otherwise, read on.
How to get to Heaven:
1. Avoid evil.
2. If you have done evil, then repent.
3. Do good.
The Details:
1. Avoiding Evil.
Some acts are always wrong, no matter what the circumstances. Other acts may or may not be wrong, depending on the circumstances and the effects. Among all those acts that are wrong, some acts are seriously wrong, in other words, such acts are evil. Other acts may be wrong, but not seriously wrong.
If you do anything that is seriously wrong, and you never repent through the last moment of your life, then you will certainly go to Hell forever. And no matter how much good you have done in your life, if you have deliberately and knowingly done anything that is seriously wrong, without repenting before you die, you will certainly go to Hell.
2. Repentance
Do not commit any serious sins, but if you have sinned seriously, repent sincerely. True and full repentance happens not merely out of fear of Hell, but also out of love of God and neighbor. Accept true love for God and neighbor, otherwise, you will not be able to fully and sincerely repent.
Why should you be allowed to enter Heaven, if you have not repented from the evil that you did on earth?
If you have done anything that is seriously wrong, even very many things, but if you also repent before you die, then you will go to Heaven, but only if you have also done at least some truly good and genuinely selfless acts in your life.
3. Good Deeds
If you have avoided all evil, or have repented from all the evil in your life, but you have never done anything truly good for others, then you will certainly still go to Hell. For spending your whole life without doing good is itself one of the worst evils that you can commit.
Truly good deeds include sincere prayer for others, genuine worship of God, selflessly helping other human beings, and any similar deed that expresses a true love for God or a true love for neighbor.
Make certain that you have done at least some acts in your life that are substantially selflessly good. Otherwise, when you are judged by God, who is the source of all that is good, you will have no defense.
If your life has been a waste, your soul will burn in Hell forever, unless you repent and do good before you die.
Do at least some things that are truly good and genuinely selfless in your life. This good must be substantial, not trivial, and it must not be selfish in any way. To be more sure that you have done good, choose to do many good things. That way, in case one attempt to do good fails, you will have other things to show for your life.
Why should you be allowed into Heaven, if you have never done anything truly good on earth?
Special Cases:
Babies who die in the womb, or at a very young age, certainly go to Heaven, because they have done nothing evil, and because they have suffered death innocently, just as Christ suffered death innocently. Innocent young children, who die at such a young age, go to Heaven because God loves all the little children in their innocence. The great suffering of death at a young age makes that person like Christ who suffered and died in his innocence. So those who die in the innocence of youth will certainly go to Heaven.
Severely handicapped persons, who grow up beyond childhood, are still expected to avoid evil and to do some good in their lives, according to their ability. Of those to whom less is given, less will be expected. Since severely handicapped persons suffer a great deal, it is easier for them to get into Heaven, and harder for them to end up in Hell. Anyone who suffers a great deal in their life, and who accepts that suffering, becomes like Christ, who suffered and died on the Cross for us all.
People who do not believe in God may still go to Heaven, if they are sincere in their lack of belief. But for other persons, their rejection of God or of religion is a serious sin. They know that they should believe in God or that they should practice a religion, but they refuse to do so, out of selfish or sinful reasons.
People who practice a religion, but who make mistakes in what they believe or do, may still go to Heaven, if they are sincere in their misunderstanding of what to believe and what to do. But for some persons, their refusal to accept certain truths about religion is a serious sin. They know what they should believe or do, but they refuse to do so, out of selfish or sinful reasons.
If you want to go to Heaven, where you will be very happy forever and ever, then avoid evil, repent from your sins, and do good in your life on earth.
by Ronald L. Conte Jr.
August 26, 2006
