Heaven on His Mind

It was hot that day – so hot that my skin felt like it was on fire. A medical clinic was going on around me, but I decided it would continue without me helping it, so I sat down to cool off. A young Acehnese man noticed my quiet retreat and decided to join me. He was in his early twenties and wore a Hawaii t-shirt. His English was good so we talked. 

He started with pleasantries about where I was from, but quickly changed topics to what was on his mind. He said, “We believe all people will eventually get to heaven. How do you believe a person gets to heaven?” 

My first thought was that Muslims do not believe that “everyone” eventually gets to heaven, but only the faithful and even then with difficulty. However, he hadn’t asked me to correct him about what he believed. He asked what I believed. 

I told him, “I believe that God is completely good and Holy, and all people will be judged for their sins by Isa (Jesus). I do not believe that I am able to do enough good to earn forgiveness for my sins. I do not believe anyone is good enough except Isa. When Isa died on the cross His blood was shed as a perfect sacrifice for sin. When Isa came back from the dead He showed that He has power over sin and death. So the only way I know to get to heaven is by trusting Isa to save me from my sin. He does it, not me. Isa taught that He could and would forgive sins and give eternal life to all who ask Him. My hope for heaven is in my trusting Isa to do what He said.” 

After this the young man got very quiet. Then he changed the subject. Likely this was the first time he was introduced to Isa as the one who can pay for his sin, or that he even has sin that he couldn’t pay for by his own efforts. Seeds were definitely planted as this same young man had a similar conversation with one of the volunteer doctors that same morning. 

My skin had cooled off and I was able to return to my business, but I’m glad that I got to rest and talk. It seems that after the tsunami this young man had heaven on his mind. 

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.