One of the biggest questions people ask is, “How do I get to Heaven?” There are many answers, but they all come down to this: aligning our will with God’s. That might sound simple, but living it out is anything but easy.
We all have our own wants, desires, needs, and expectations. And the list doesn’t end with us. The world constantly bombards us with messages about what we should want and what we need. Friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers all influence our decisions. How often do we see someone buy something or do something, and suddenly we feel like we need it too?
There’s always a tug-of-war between our eternal souls and the desires of the flesh. Our bodies are very good, but we’re meant to direct our wants toward God and others—not just toward satisfying ourselves. I love ice cream, and I’d love to get the giant cone with all the toppings. But I also know that wouldn’t be good for my health. In the same way, sin can feel pleasurable in the moment, but deep down, our souls know those choices harm our eternal well-being.
Turning our desires away from sin and toward God is easy to understand in theory. But what happens when life hits hard—when a child, spouse, or loved one dies? When we lose a job or face illness? That certainly doesn’t feel like our will. But is it God’s will?
God’s will is to give us free will. Without it, we couldn’t truly love Him. But with free will came the risk—and the reality—of humanity turning away from God. That separation exiled us from the Garden, the place where pain, suffering, and death didn’t exist. Now, we live in this valley of tears, striving to find our way back to the new Garden God has prepared for us.
Some may say, “Didn’t Jesus die to save us from original sin? Doesn’t that mean we’re all saved?” Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t guarantee us Heaven—but it opened the way. He gave us a new path, but we still have to walk it. We have to put in the effort and stay the course to reach our Father.
When we conform our will to God’s—rather than trying to twist His will to match ours—we prepare ourselves for Heaven. And while Heaven is full of joy for all who enter, those closest to God will experience an even deeper love and joy that is indescribable. As Lent draws to a close, let’s reflect on how closely our lives align with God’s will. And if we need to, let’s make the changes now—so we can share in eternal happiness with Him forever.
