If There Were No Heaven

A fellow blogger is having a linky connection on the question:

If there were no Heaven or Hell, would you still be a Christian?  

I found it a very intriguing question and decided I wanted to answer it.  Here are the parameters she's given us.

Answer the question:

If there were no Heaven or Hell would you still be a Christian in 350 words or less.  Your answer should begin with one of the four choices below.

1. I absolutely would still be a Christian....
2. I think I would still be a Christian....
3. I'm not so sure....
4. I definitely would not still be a Christian....

At first I found it difficult.  If there were no Heaven or Hell would there still be Jesus?  Then I decided that I needed to add one last parameter~everything else is the same.  Then it becomes easy.

I absolutely would still be a Christian.  Yes, the hope of the Resurrection and life everlasting are important components in my Christian faith, but they are not WHY I am a Christian.  I am a Christian because I love Jesus.  Having a relationship with Him impacts my life in tons of positive ways, but given the 350 word limit, I'll just stick to the Hope He gives me.

If you take away the Hope of Salvation and Heaven, there is still so much more.  And on a day to day basis, I'm not usually thinking about eternity, I'm thinking about now.  And right now, Jesus gives me hope...

that my life has purpose and He is directing it  (Jeremiah 29:11)
that what is broken can be restored  (Psalm 23:3)
that hurts can be healed  (Psalm 147:3)
that sin can/has been forgiven   (1 John 1:9)
that I can change   (2 Corinthians 5:17)
that the Holy Spirit will help me be more like Christ   (John 14:26)
that I am never alone  (Joshua 1:9)

Without Hope where would I be?  

A little bit richer (if I wasn't a Christian money and things would so be my God) and a lot more miserable.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  Hebrews 11:1

Check out Amber's blog for more answers or to add your own response.