Q: When babies/infants pass away and go to heaven, will they still have the mind of a baby or know what is going on?

A: Firstly, let us address the idea that babies WILL go to heaven after they die. I personally believe this and personally believe that God will judge accordingly and take into consideration that the babies did not have a chance to accept Christ. I believe there is a special measure of grace for such tragic situations.

For more reading on that topic, try this site.

Now, moving on to address if babies understand what is going on.

If we believe in Christ and we die, we have full assurance that we will go to heaven. And as we do, we are given new bodies as we lay to rest the ones that we currently have. We are not told how these "new bodies" will work or how they will look like, just that we are renewed.

Having said that, that doesn't mean that we'll forget everything. Isaiah 65:17 says this, "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." What this verse means is not that we will forget all things, but that we'll forget all things that no longer matter in heaven. The the things that have helped us worship God in heaven and enhance that experience, we will remember them. The things that hinder us from our authentic worship, those are the things that we'll forget.

For more information, please read this post by Pastor John Piper.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: For English, there was this essay that I had to read and it states: Can a robot find God?...

...I was wondering if robots, or any kind of machinery, can go to heaven or hell? And even, can it have thoughts and doubts on its own creation? Because machines are man made creation, I'm stuck. Do you have any advice for me?



A: Well, this is a rather interesting one. Never did I think that I'd get to answer something to do with robots. This person may be asking me because my youth often call me "Megatron" due to a poorly explained nickname from fellow Pastor HM. (He subsequently gave me a Bumble bee figurine when our families went to watch Transformers together and told me that at least I had the heart of this fearless dude...thanks.). But I will try my hardest to tap into my inner philosophical side and answer with objectivity.

Now, this was not a question that derived an unanimous answer. Why don't you start by reading this article first. Click HERE.

Firstly, it is important to define what a robot is. According to How Stuff Works (www.howstuffworks.com), a typical robot "has a movable physical structure, a motor of some sort, a sensor system, a power supply and a computer "brain" that controls all of these elements. Essentially, robots are man-made versions of animal life -- they are machines that replicate human and animal behavior." (http://science.howstuffworks.com/robot.htm).
Basically means that unlike my Blackberry which is simply a machine, a robot has a programmable brain that moves a body.

Secondly, I think we need to identify what it means by finding God. Anyone (or any technologically advanced robot in this case), can have the sense of a higher being. You can see this in the case of humans as they struggle to find God or a God. However, there is a difference between finding God and knowing Him through having a relationship with Him.

You are right to point out the fact that humans are created by God and robots are created by humans. Our creator wishes for us to know Him by communing with Him through prayer and community. We have the capacity to do this as it is God ordained. Robots on the other hand, even if they are programmed to have this relationship, cannot have an authentic relationship with God simply because it is not in His will. Through their technology, they can understand God, they can know that there is a God out there, they can even have a sense of closeness to God...but those "feelings" are not real as they are pre-set by their human inventor.

To address the issue of heaven or hell for robots, we need to understand the WAY in which someone gets into heaven or hell. Insert Jesus Christ here. Christ came to die on the cross for the sins of humans. He is the ultimate and final sacrifice in the sacrificial system in atonement of our sin (atonement means forgiveness). Christ came to die for humanity...and not for the creation from humanity.

To further that point...our eternal life (salvation) comes after we have finished living this one. As in, when we die, we'll go to heaven. However, robots don't have the capacity to die because they don't live. Either they are retired because of mechanical problems, or they are fixed so that they can continue on.

I think the article above gives a good philosophical answer on how, when and why robots can have a relationship with God. They may be programmed to feel like a human, act like a human, and even have a conscience like a human. But ultimately, they are just imitations of humanity. They don't possess a soul, they don't possess a true sense of right and wrong (because those just programmed into their being). Robots are unable to truly have a relationship with God through the understanding and salvation of Jesus Christ.


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: Will I miss my friends (who aren't with me) in heaven?

The Bible does not specifically speak on this matter directly about whether we would be able to miss our friends but it does offer some ideas about what it would be like in heaven. The only indication that we would be able to have any negative feelings or emotions, such as mourning or suffering, in the afterlife is attributed to hell.

In heaven, we will reach the fulfillment of our purpose in life, which is to know and worship God. Romans 8: 22-24 says, our souls groan for the day of completion, that is to say the complete redemption of your whole body and soul, when we will be with Him and in His presence. And that is what we will experience in heaven—we will be surrounded by God’s glory. Our joy will be absolutely complete and overwhelming that any other feelings, whether loss or grieving, will not be worth comparing to. (Romans 8:18)

And in Rev. 21: 4, it says that God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. In the end, there won’t be any grieving or sadness. There would not be any suffering at all and even if we were conscious of those not with us, we would not be saddened. It will be a place where there will be a constant peace and joy in being with God, and our world is so far from what Heaven will be like that it’s hard for us to imagine it.

So for now, while we are not there yet, it is not too late for your loved ones. Remember that God loves them and He is right now chasing after them. Continue to have a heart for them; pray for them; share with them the gospel through word and mouth; live out as a light for Him and love them as Jesus would, in hopes that they would come to know our Lord and perhaps one day celebrate WITH YOU in heaven.

[Answered by Jon]

Q: Is there any limit to how much you sin/ignore God enough to have to go to hell?

There are 2 ways to take this question: (1) If you’re non-Christian, how much can you sin/ignore God before it’s too late?

The short answer is this: You have until your death, b/c this is the final point before an eternity in either Heaven or Hell.

What if I wait until the very end?

Pastor R.C. Sproul provides solid insight here. He says, “If we turn your question around and ask if a person could live his whole life in sin, rebellion, and disobedience and then on his deathbed truly repent and go to heaven, the answer is yes -- just as the thief on the cross met the Savior in his dying moments and was guaranteed eternity with him. The New Testament speaks of those who are saved by the skin of their teeth. It's certainly not a wise course of action to postpone your repentance until the day of your departure because we don't know when that day is on the schedule. Even though making a confession simply out of fear is not enough, that fear should give pause and cause us to think seriously about our future state.”

The second way to address this question is to ask the question if I’m already a true Christian, can I lose my salvation? First, we must look at two warnings in Hebrews.

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. For the earth which brings in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 6:4-8)

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries…. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31)

Again, Dr. Sproul provides a solid answer HERE.

In summary, I will quote my seminary theology professor, who used to say: "There is more grace in God, than sin in us."

I think that’s the Christian’s final hope at the end of the day. If you’re a genuine believer, and you’ve truly repented, then you need not worry about the limit of sin, because God has saved you.

[Answered by Pastor Ho-Ming]

Q: Will I see my pets in heaven?

RIP Harley (2002-2008), my pet guinea pig.

Dr. William L. Craig answers this very question HERE.

In short he states that it may be possible that heaven will be graced with all sorts of creatures but nobody knows for sure.

[Answered by Pastor Ho-Ming]