In Matthew 18:3, the bible says "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a man who is desirous of making heaven to 'Go sell everything you have and give to the poor and then come back and follow me and I will guarantee you heaven.' In Matthew 19:23 - 24, Jesus continues, 'It is hard for the rich to go to heaven as it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for the rich man to make it to heaven." Then add Exodus 20:1-17' provisions of the Ten Commandments which decrees that if you want to go to heaven, you must love God and if you love God, you must keep his commandments. With these and many more other bible provisions and/or requirements for making it to heaven, it certainly appears that a very strong bar exists, which makes it very difficult for anyone to cross the gates of heaven. To this effect therefore, one is forced to wonder if anyone really stands any chance of eventually getting past through that gate and are we all but laboring in vain?
Therefore is it not arguably a better effort for humanity to work hard at having their respective sentences in hell reduced, rather than continuously wasting their time seeking to make the unattainable heaven? In this way, humanity will be forced to cut their enthusiasm about the the place of bliss and peradventure not to be disappointed on that very day.
Icheoku says since different categories of sin would naturally command different punishments, by working hard at reducing our sins or the degrees of our sins, we can actually earn a place that will not be too hot. Lesser sins or smaller sins cannot be expected to be punished as other more heinous sins which the intolerable, searing and scorching heat of the center-pit of hell would be reserved for. For instance a petty thief cannot be expected to receive the same punishment as hardened criminals such as killers, armed robbers and other highly corrupt government officials; otherwise where is the fairness? Many churches are in agreement with the proposition that hell and heaven have categorized levels. For example, a church like American Mitt Romney's Mormons, The Church of Latter Day Saints, believes that there are different tiers of hell and heaven; but that both do exist here on earth? Even the pope very recently expressed some doubts if any physical heaven and hell do exist somewhere out there?
But one thing which is not disputable and which majority of faithfuls do agree on, is that humans are very sinful and are usually unrepentant at the time they die and could not have had time to ask for forgiveness and/or attain salvation. So what becomes of these people and would every sinner's sin be ball-parked as same or would they be judged based on the gravity of their respective sins? If the later, it necessarily follows that they will be similarly punished differently according to the magnitude of their sins. Conversely, if the former, then there is certainly a miscarriage of justice as the punishment could not have been commensurate to the sins and thus inequitable. But the good Lord is a God of equity and would not unduly punish his children who strayed just a little as he would those who strayed mightily.
Icheoku says so dead in sin and if the Bible's account is true, every sinner will automatically proceed to hell? This will definitely leave majority of human-beings jammed in a highway to hell, holding just a one way ticket. But it does not make sense nor is it justifiable that every sinner will be published equally; hence it cannot be a one pit of fiery inferno burning people alive. There must be some category of hot, hotter and hottest in hell otherwise fairness would have lost its meaning. Regrettably, barring any consideration as to weighted sin and weighted commensurate punishment, hell will certainly be an over saturated place with the over 99.7% of humans who are most likely destined to hell. However, Icheoku is leaning towards the school of thought and belief which suggests that all sins cannot be punished equally. Further that each sin will have its commensurate punishment, depending on its gravity; thus eliciting different levels of hellish punishment including the length of stay therein as well as the degree of radiation by heat. This is Icheoku's position and adds that since no man is infallible, may be human-beings should be striving to be punished fairly and according to their transgression, rather than making the heaven utopia. But for all those still bent on heaven regardless, Icheoku prays for a good tailwind underneath your wings.
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