So if I am good, I get to go to the good place?

Interviewer: To be talking to You in this way is still very awesome for me. You are so far out there and beyond understanding.
God: I have revealed a lot about Myself to humanity in My Word.
Interviewer: You are referring to the Bible?
God: Yes.
Interviewer: But many find it rather difficult to read.
God: They say that because they haven’t really tried. There is a lot in there that is very straightforward and understandable. Then there is much that is a bit more on the mysterious side. Believing the mysterious without fully understanding it is a matter of faith.
Interviewer: But why make it mysterious in the first place?
God: That serves a number of purposes. First, it allowed Me to place in My Word secrets that could later-sometimes millennia later-become understood. Their later fulfillment or disclosure proves divine authorship of the words in the first place. Second, when something becomes understood by a person, it inspires in them a greater interest in reading My Word more, to want to search for other secrets. Third, it is a test of faith. I like it when people believe what I say just because I said it and not because they necessarily understand it. To Me it shows that they love and trust Me even though they might not understand.
Interviewer: So is the Bible the sum total of Your Word?
God: Well, I think the answer to that would be obvious. If the words in the Bible were all I ever wanted to say, I wouldn’t be giving these interviews. These dialogues contain My Words, do they not?
Interviewer: Well, that is rather flattering, but I really wouldn’t put this interview on the same level as the Bible.
God: That’s modest of you! (God chuckles.) But you see, I have spoken and do indeed speak to men and women, boys and girls of all nations and religions. I am a living and moving God. I didn’t hang up My pen-or My megaphone, for that matter-when the Bible was completed. I still talk to people today, trying to show them what I would like them to do with and in their lives. True, these things are not on the level of the Bible, but they are still My Words.
Interviewer: You stated before that the idea of this life is to prepare us for the next life.
God: It is a preparation for the next life, but that is not the whole purpose for this life. You are also supposed to be a force for good in the present world. But the next world is the one that you will be in for eternity.
Interviewer: So if I am good, I get to go to the good place?
God: You mean Heaven?
Interviewer: Yes.
God: Ah, Heaven! The paradise of the afterlife! A place of infinite beauty that is forever getting better. But there is a prerequisite to get in the door. You first have to receive My Son, Jesus, into your heart.
Interviewer: This is an absolute prerequisite? I mean, I am talking to You here and so it seems I could bypass Jesus.
God: There is only one way to get into Heaven and be reconciled to Me, and that is through Jesus.
Interviewer: What do You mean by “reconciled”?
God: It is a long story, but the short version is that the original inhabitants of the earth did something that I asked them not to.
Interviewer: I assume You are referring to Adam and Eve.
God: Yes, dear Adam and Eve. By doing what they did, they introduced sin into the world. This sin is what separates mankind from Me. Jesus died so that that sin might be forgiven. Oh, I know to some that might sound a bit macabre, but there are certain rules in place in the spirit world that are inviolable. Rather than trying to understand it all right now, just believe that it had to be this way.
Because Jesus died and rose again, all that has to happen to be forgiven of all sin in your life is to believe in Him and ask Him to forgive you. When He forgives you, I forgive you. And then we are reconciled. Simple as that!
Interviewer: You said “all sin.”
God: Yes, all sin!
Interviewer: So that covers all past sin?
God: Not only all past sin, but also all present and future sins.
Interviewer: Isn’t that carte blanche to do whatever you want, even if it is sin?
God: No. Your sins are forgiven by Me, but that doesn’t mean you won’t suffer in some way for willful sin. People have to live with the consequences of their actions. Even if there is forgiveness, it does not mean there are not consequences; and even if I forgive you, others may not. If you commit crimes, you will certainly pay for them sooner or later in some way. If you hurt others, whether they forgive you or not is up to them. And if you knowingly do something wrong, it may result in permanent damage to you in some way.
Interviewer: But the sinner is still reconciled with You; I mean, if he believes in Jesus and has asked for forgiveness?
God: Yes. There is no way that can be withdrawn. It is also an inviolable law that once you are saved, you are forever saved.
Interviewer: You are introducing another word here, “saved.”
God: It is another term for what we were talking about. It is the same as “reconciled.” The Bible refers to it as salvation, which means being saved. You are saved from a life without Me and saved from Hell in the afterlife.
Interviewer: So Hell is a real place? It is not just a metaphor?
God: Hell is very real. It is the antithesis of Heaven. In every way that Heaven is beautiful, Hell is devoid of beauty. Imagine your worst nightmare and you have a taste of Hell.
Interviewer: But why Hell? If You are love, then how can You allow such a place to exist?
God: It serves a purpose similar to that which punishment and jail serve on earth. More than anything, it is a deterrent. No one really wants to be punished or go to jail, so the majority behave. You don’t have to go there unless you choose to by your actions. I am trying to get everyone into Heaven, and frankly, human nature being what it is, some people have to be scared into it by this unpleasant alternative.
Interviewer: But that doesn’t seem the best motive for being reconciled to You.
God: It works with some.
Interviewer: It still comes down to a choice, though.
God: Man has free choice. Everyone must choose for himself. Man wasn’t created as an automaton. Of course, I want people to choose My way and I give them every encouragement to.
Interviewer: But what about all those who haven’t heard how to be reconciled to You? It seems very unfair to send them to Hell simply because they haven’t had the chance to hear how to go to Heaven.
God: Who said I send them there if they haven’t had a chance to hear?
Interviewer: Well, that is logical, because there are billions of people in the world and not all of them-in fact, I would say hardly a majority of them-have heard about You, Jesus, or salvation.
God: Why are you limiting it to them hearing about all this in this world?
Interviewer: That seems the reasonable conclusion. Are You implying that these things can be presented to them in the afterlife?
God: Exactly, or as you suggested, it would scarcely be fair, would it? I know there are some who say that the only chance for receiving salvation is in this world, but I am afraid that they do Me a disservice in this.
Interviewer: So that means people could put off the decision till after they die?
God: No. If you have been presented with the information in this life and refuse it, then your decision has already been made.
Interviewer: But surely a lot of good and respectable people may well refuse?
God: Yes. It is their choice, as with everyone.
Interviewer: That would mean that some real nasty criminal type could end up in Heaven and a good, upstanding, law-abiding person could end up in Hell.
God: It could and does happen. Entry to Heaven does not depend on what you have done with your life, but it depends on your acceptance or refusal of Jesus. Everyone is on a level playing field when it comes to this choice.
Interviewer: I can’t help but feel that that is somewhat unfair. A good person ends up in Hell and the bad person ends up in Heaven scot-free.
God: I didn’t say scot-free. Just because a bad person ends up in Heaven does not mean that he or she will not have to make right what he or she has done wrong. What a person receives in Heaven in the way of rewards is meted out according to what good he or she has done in this life. One could well end up the equivalent of a pauper on his initial arrival and could also be required to make amends for what he had done on earth.
Likewise the “good” person who ends up in Hell, but then receives and believes in Jesus, will not stay there. However, if he stubbornly and adamantly refuses Jesus, he cannot enter Heaven. Receiving Jesus and believing in His sacrifice on humanity’s behalf is the only acceptable ticket for entry into Heaven.