Religion Q & A – Judgment Day

Anonymous asks: What will happen on judgment day if we find out that everything we believe is false? What will happen to the non-believers when they find out that God is real?

Answer: To respond to your first question, I think the best perspective to take would be one of faith. Are you afraid that what we believe is not true and therefore will end up to be a waste of time in the end? If you explore all the evidence that we can find in historical records, Scripture, and Tradition, you will see that there is plenty of support to back up the truths of our faith. But when it comes down to the “nitty-gritty”, belief is a decision to put your trust in God. It’s all about relationship.

Let me put it this way… Some people don’t want to get married because they are afraid that once they make the commitment, they’ll find out that the person they married isn’t who they portrayed themselves to be during the engagement. They don’t want to find out that they were being deceived all along. Because of their fear and lack of trust, they rob themselves of a beautiful relationship…one that will help them be the best person they could be just by being open to the love of another person.

I think it would be best if you spent time trying to get to know more about God who wants to have a relationship with you. The goal of faith and the practice of religion is to help us be better individuals…to be more loving and compassionate…to want to make a difference in the lives of other people. If you happen to be missing out on the truth – or part of it – then God will reveal that to you when you meet Him.

All people will be judged based on what they know, not on what they don’t know. If a person lived the best way they knew how according to what they knew to be good and right, even if they were never taught about God, then there is no reason for them to be denied the chance to go to Heaven. However, if someone outrightly turned away from God and stopped believing in Him because they knowingly did not want to follow His ways, then the life they live for all eternity will just be an extension of the life they lived here on earth.

Of course, only God knows what will happen to each individual on Judgment Day. He knows each person’s heart and understands the circumstances and challenges that they face in their faith journey. We can trust that He loves each of us so much that He will constantly give us opportunities to grow closer to Him every day so we may join Him one day in Paradise.