“I don’t want to go to heaven when I know my husband is in hell.”
Her words were stunning and disturbing. My wife and I were listening to the sad tale recounted by a close mutual friend of theirs from high school. The friend’s husband unexpectedly died at a very young age and did not believe in God. A few years after he passed away, his wife, who professed to be a Christian, confessed her reason for the startling admission, “I don’t want to leave my husband!”
We hear of couples who speak of a love that is stronger than death, hopeful that true love will remain unchanged in the afterlife. This a touching sentiment but the reality is the afterlife is not simply a continuation of our lives on earth. Will the love between a husband and wife or any relationship continue in heaven? Certainly love will be there but the nature of the relationships will change. However, there is no Bible verse that speaks of love continuing in hell. There is no God, only eternal torment. Hell is the absence of love and hope.
The Bible describes the love between a husband and wife as representing the love that Jesus Christ has for His Church (Ephesians 5:22-30). Love is a spiritual relationship and cannot be limited only to our experience on earth. True love is heaven sent and based upon Jesus Christ.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
The only Truth is that nothing, not even death, can separate us from God’s love. The love we experience in this life is a foreshadowing of the infinitely deeper love we will experience when we are in Heaven in the presence of Jesus Christ. If there is someone whom you dearly love, the only way to absolutely ensure this love will continue in Heaven is for both of you to confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. In Heaven, love will always be present, because this is the eternal promise of God, which can never be broken.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 