How could I be happy?

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Laurie_Gibson

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I am in Heaven and so supposed to be in bliss.

But my wife is in Hell so how could I possibly be happy?

Just asking
 
According to one school of thought, when you get to heaven, you’ll no longer remember or be aware of anything evil, sad, perplexing, etc. Of course, that doesn’t fit with another view, which claims that people in heaven (not just God) can affect and effect things down on earth.
 
How could a bowling ball dropped on your foot hurt when you’re eating ice cream?
 
Laurie_Gibson said:
I am in Heaven and so supposed to be in bliss.

But my wife is in Hell so how could I possibly be happy?

Just asking
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Those in heaven are conformed perfectly to God. We cannot desire anything that is not God’s Will. We love what God Loves and hate what God hates.
If our spouse is in hell, (and remember that they are no longer our spouse) we will know perfectly why they are there and agree with God’s Judgement.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Those in heaven are conformed perfectly to God. We cannot desire anything that is not God’s Will. We love what God Loves and hate what God hates.
If our spouse is in hell, (and remember that they are no longer our spouse) we will know perfectly why they are there and agree with God’s Judgement.

Peace
James
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I like this explanation.
 
Hi friends and thanks for replies:

Berean – the problem with your answer is that I would be completely changed [brainwashed] if I did not remember that I had had a wife and did not realise she was not in heaven.
White sheep – If I dropped a ball on my foot while eating ice cream I would certainly notice it.
JRKH – It may be that I know why my wife is in Hell and agree that she ought to be there but I would still be desperately unhappy about it surely? After all suppose on this earth my wife had committed some crime and been justly convicted to a long spell in jail – I would know why she was in jail and think it right that she was there, but I would certainly not be happy about it.
Ponyguy – in the UK, Laurie is a male name – short for Laurence – as Scoobydoo says!
MarcAntony – I don’t like it. It answers the question, ‘Would I accept her punishment as just?’ but I asked ‘How could I be happy if she was suffering – even if the suffering was just?’

So no satisfactory answers yet. I’m hoping

Laurie
 
Laurie_Gibson said:
Hi friends and thanks for replies:

Berean – the problem with your answer is that I would be completely changed [brainwashed] if I did not remember that I had had a wife and did not realise she was not in heaven.
White sheep – If I dropped a ball on my foot while eating ice cream I would certainly notice it.
JRKH – It may be that I know why my wife is in Hell and agree that she ought to be there but I would still be desperately unhappy about it surely? After all suppose on this earth my wife had committed some crime and been justly convicted to a long spell in jail – I would know why she was in jail and think it right that she was there, but I would certainly not be happy about it.
Ponyguy – in the UK, Laurie is a male name – short for Laurence – as Scoobydoo says!
MarcAntony – I don’t like it. It answers the question, ‘Would I accept her punishment as just?’ but I asked ‘How could I be happy if she was suffering – even if the suffering was just?’

So no satisfactory answers yet. I’m hoping

Laurie
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Ah, but if you agree with God that it is perfectly just for your wife to be in Hell you realize that God will ensure your perfect happiness?

I’m doing an awful job of explaining this, so if somebody can articulate what I mean better I’d appreciate it.
 
Laurie_Gibson said:
‘Would I accept her punishment as just?’ but I asked ‘How could I be happy if she was suffering – even if the suffering was just?’

So no satisfactory answers yet. I’m hoping

Laurie
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Perhaps, this has something to do with what you think it means to be “Happy” in heaven.

You know, I can’t recall the bible describing God as a happy go lucky kinda guy. I do recall things like “God is Love”, “God is Truth”.

So perhaps you might want to clarify what you think “Happiness in Heaven” means.
 
If I was in heaven drinking a few cool ones kicking back chatting with God and my wife was in hell I’d laugh and say she deserves it.
Really, the people in heaven don’t think about the people in hell.
 
Desertsailor said:
If I was in heaven drinking a few cool ones kicking back chatting with God and my wife was in hell I’d laugh and say she deserves it.
Really, the people in heaven don’t think about the people in hell.
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Man…there’s so much wrong with what you just said…
 
Laurie_Gibson said:
I am in Heaven and so supposed to be in bliss.

But my wife is in Hell so how could I possibly be happy?

Just asking
Click to expand...
Because you will love God more than your wife - by an infinite amount…
An analogy: You have a very best friend that you love. The friend starts abusing your child and leading him astray. Will you be happy to be separated from that friend and have him separated from your child?
 
Laurie_Gibson said:
Hi friends and thanks for replies:

Berean – the problem with your answer is that I would be completely changed [brainwashed] if I did not remember that I had had a wife and did not realise she was not in heaven.
White sheep – If I dropped a ball on my foot while eating ice cream I would certainly notice it.
JRKH – It may be that I know why my wife is in Hell and agree that she ought to be there but I would still be desperately unhappy about it surely? After all suppose on this earth my wife had committed some crime and been justly convicted to a long spell in jail – I would know why she was in jail and think it right that she was there, but I would certainly not be happy about it.
Ponyguy – in the UK, Laurie is a male name – short for Laurence – as Scoobydoo says!
MarcAntony – I don’t like it. It answers the question, ‘Would I accept her punishment as just?’ but I asked ‘How could I be happy if she was suffering – even if the suffering was just?’

So no satisfactory answers yet. I’m hoping

Laurie
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Perhaps it is because you are thinking in earthly terms of “happiness”.
After all, it takes a considerable sin for someone to find themselves in hell.
Have you done all that you can to amake sure that she makes it to heaven?

Peace
James
 
This has been a concern of mine since I have turned closer to God several months ago. My siblings and my parents are wonderful people. The faith that we practice is the faith of ranchers and shepherds from Mexico. That is to say, it is a faith that is a matter of earnestness, obligation, and simplicity. But none of us are perfect, and in reading the exemplary lives of the saints, I am sometimes afraid that none of us are worthy enough to enter into God’s Kingdom. After receiving a vision of Hell, Blessed Jacinta went around lamenting those who use vulgar language because that was enough to merit Hell! I mean, WOW. Vulgarity, really? This is frightening.

I talked to a priest about this, and he said that I was being scrupulous. Little things like vulgarity should be worked on, of course, but he said that what most matters is overall relationship with God and should little things like vulgarity ever reach the point that it separates us from God, then THAT is the point at which little things like vulgarity become big things. What does CAF think?
 
Desertsailor said:
If I was in heaven drinking a few cool ones kicking back chatting with God and my wife was in hell I’d laugh and say she deserves it.
Really, the people in heaven don’t think about the people in hell.
Click to expand...
We all deserve Hell. That’s quite horrible.
 
Nita said:
Because you will love God more than your wife - by an infinite amount…
An analogy: You have a very best friend that you love. The friend starts abusing your child and leading him astray. Will you be happy to be separated from that friend and have him separated from your child?
Click to expand...
I think this is a wonderful analogy.

I think it’s difficult to understand how we can be content in Heaven knowing about the damned. But in Heaven we will understand what it was about each person that damned them - not forgetting that it is people who damn themselves, not God.

If we truly believe that God is just, loving, merciful and omniscient, then we must trust God’s judgment is perfect - far more perfect than our own, and that the damned are in Hell for good reason.

If those in Heaven have perfect trust in God (which I assume they will have), and when they see His perfection, glory and beauty (which they surely will when they are in Heaven) then they will not be saddened by the damnation of others. They will more likely be saddened by the offenses that are made against God, and realize the necessity of having them separated from the glorified in Heaven.
 
Windfish said:
This has been a concern of mine since I have turned closer to God several months ago. My siblings and my parents are wonderful people. The faith that we practice is the faith of ranchers and shepherds from Mexico. That is to say, it is a faith that is a matter of earnestness, obligation, and simplicity. But none of us are perfect, and in reading the exemplary lives of the saints, I am sometimes afraid that none of us are worthy enough to enter into God’s Kingdom. After receiving a vision of Hell, Blessed Jacinta went around lamenting those who use vulgar language because that was enough to merit Hell! I mean, WOW. Vulgarity, really? This is frightening.

I talked to a priest about this, and he said that I was being scrupulous. Little things like vulgarity should be worked on, of course, but he said that what most matters is overall relationship with God and should little things like vulgarity ever reach the point that it separates us from God, then THAT is the point at which little things like vulgarity become big things. What does CAF think?
Click to expand...
What is your direction and focus.
Are you seeking to grow closer to God and to Love Him more?
Do you Love Him enough to want not to offend Him in the least way?
Are you working diligently on overcoming bad habits?

So long as this is your focus and you work diligently (if not perfectly) on overcoming bad habits then God recognizes this and you are in good stead (and in good company).

If, on the other hand, you do not take God and faith seriously; if you think the “minimum” is enough and “blow off” bad and sinful habits as “not bad enough to condemn”, you may be mired in one of several deadly sins. It could be spiritual sloth, or pride, or presumption.
These are the types of people that Jacinta was refering to, not those who struggle and fail.

I don’t believe you fall into the second catagory or you would not be here at CAF. But I post this so that you recognize that the difference is not “perfection” vs “imperfection” but effort vs presumption. It is a question of “Focus” and recognizing, truly, where your treasure lies.

Peace
James
 
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