The question was raised recently on the fact of salvation. Who is going to be saved, that is, go to heaven and be with God? Before expressing my humble opinion, I must say that I strongly believe in Bible as God’s revelation (though, it can be interpreted incorrectly). Let’s start from the most important verses:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; (John 11:25)

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18)

I have a friend, a so-called unbeliever. I talked with her about Christ and his love to us. We both were visiting the church, and she heard the Gospel. But yet, she remained distant from the Christ, “I just can’t believe that Jesus, a human, was really the Almighty,” she said to me.

Another acquaintance of mine, a so-called semibeliever, is the son of a church minister who was betrayed by his colleagues. He doubts the authenticity of the Bible, and the existence of loving God.

The last example of a person I know who has a father, the ex-pastor. While being the pastor of a church, the father had beaten him mercilessly. The boy grew with the thought that since his earthly father is so cruel, then his heavenly father is probably the same.

All this examples of the people who heard the Gospel, but because of the different circumstances are unable to accept the abundance of joy and love the Holy Spirit gives. It may very well be that they will never believe in Jesus. Will they go to hell, a place of eternal hate and despair? I don’t think so and here’s why.

There is the inner voice that tells me what’s right and wrong that is separate from my logical thinking. I believe it is God’s voice in me. Sometimes it contradicts my own interpretation of certain Bible verses, many times it disputes with what people say in the church. I’m trying to follow it even when it goes against the popular belief.

With that said, my inner voice tells me these three people and others like them have hope. They honestly said to me they have no faith in neither God, nor Jesus. Belief is something that is supernatural, it comes from the Heavens. I remember when I was an unbeliever and attended a church one time. During worship, something shook me to the very core; I was crying and didn’t know why. That was the time my faith was born. At that moment no one had to read me verses from the Bible convincing me that I’m going to hell or I’m missing a party in the heaven. The unfathomable God became real for me.

I was in hell before, and now I’m a new creature destined to have a joyous life. People who don’t have a connection with Christ are in hell already. Hell is not a place in the afterlife. Indeed, you don’t even need a place. Hell is within people’s hearts. Therefore, they don't go to hell, they ARE in hell. Wherever a person will go, he will carry it. An honest person living without Christ most likely will admit that he is full of hate, lust, and pride. Then, he will point out at others, saying that everyone is like him. The last step will be when he will point at God indicating that the Everlasting is evil because his creatures are wicked.

Christ, on the other hand, whispers in our ears saying that he loves us to death. We are fallible and dirty, but Jesus, through his love, sees us holy and pure. This love transforms people who accept it. This love spreads on others, saying that if God loves me so much, then he loves my neighbor the same. And as the last step, it returns to God in reciprocity. People who live in God’s love are living in the Kingdom of Heaven now.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4)

The world is such a terrible place for those who are not capable of loving people around them. Wherever this person will go, whoever he will meet – there will be no satisfaction for him. The happiness consists of these simple words: “Love by working and serving.” In ancient Hebrew, the word “love” is solely a verb. If you adore or admire someone, you must do something for that person. Otherwise, you just think that you love him.

Love. This is something that hurts the most, and brings so much pleasure that is enough for the whole life. Interesting phenomenon - God’s love never hurts. When you are filled with his Spirit and obey him, you start to truly love your neighbor. You are not going to learn this in a church, from a person on the pulpit. Love is a decision in your particular circumstances when people need you and you respond to their needs. However, God’s love is more than that. To understand it, you must understand how he loves you.

To believe in God’s love is the hardest thing on Earth. In church, people say “God loves” all the time but it only gives me, an unbeliever, frustration. If a person loves me, I want him to express it with words, touch, a glance in my eyes. However, I know that God is a spirit, therefore there must be a different kind of words, touch, and glance. This is a voice inside me that is not of my own. It touches my heart, it looks in the very nature of me and sees there only good. I hate myself, I don’t see anything of any value in me, but this voice inside tells me that there’s no other person of the same kind as me.

To begin love others, you must first love yourself. And to love yourself, you must keep your inner ears open to God’s voice.