Do We Go To Heaven With Unconfessed Sin?

And What About "A Life Review"?

I had unconfessed sin when I went to heaven, although of course, I didn’t go to stay there this time. I’d been working, but failing, on taking great care of this “body temple” God lives in, and I also needed to confess a persnickety attitude I’d retained about a certain situation/person in my life. I’ve had other NDE friends who saw people in heaven who they knew were in active sin while on earth - and yet there they were. God says the only sin that will keep someone from heaven is a hardened heart. The original version of 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 indicates that these verses are speaking of the pagans - ones who continued to outright worship the other gods in spite of learning of the one and only true God.

But even when a hardened heart repents, forgiveness occurs.

God knows we are human. In fact, He created us in His image. So yes, He looks like us. Or rather, we look like Him. And that crosses over to what we feel and think. The many emotions that make up our colors and our gifts and talents. I wonder what gifts and talents Jesus has besides healing and prophecy? Perhaps crafty artistry? Was His carpentry truly a piece of art, and have we found any of it? Maybe so. Does He give grace for our sins when it comes to eternity with Him? That certainly fits the Jesus I love.

In a previous post, I noted that God gives one requirement for salvation, and that is “believe in me”. Given my experience and those of my friends and what they saw, I believe you can have unconfessed sin and still go to heaven. Now, of course, this does not mean we should “sin and be happy because it doesn’t matter”. Sin still has consequences, and sometimes, it is very heavy for us and for others. I do believe that we will be held accountable for our sins in heaven. Many of my NDE friends had what we call a Life Review when their lives flashed before them like a movie. But they also universally feel (so far) that God wasn’t judging them. Rather, He was showing them the consequences of their actions on other people. My friends all state that rather than feeling judged, they were judging themselves.

“The book the angel brought out was as thin as a diner menu. I don’t know how, but somehow I knew this was the book of my life, filled with both good and bad. It was a thin volume with sparse entries of kindness or love I had shown for my fellow man. My heart sank, and my soul was crushed with the most incredible shame. I had invested my life in myself…with little regard for others. I heard the angel say in my thoughts, ‘James, what did you do with the life my Master gave you?’ Sadly, I had no answer…

But Jesus never referred to the thinness of that book. He never looked down on me with shame or judged me. The shame and regret were mine, not His. I had judged and condemned myself.” Jim Woodford and Dr. Thom Gardner, Heaven: An Expected Journey, page 126

Parts of her life played out in front of her. She understood the ripple effects of different events and decisions she had made. I Believe in Heaven, Cecil Murphey and Twila Beck, page 139

Angels came and took him through what’s often called a “life review” - everything that he had done in his life flashed before him. Howard was so ashamed of who he was and what he had done that he begged to go back to the pit so he could hide in the darkness. I Believe in Heaven, Cecil Murphey and Twila Beck, page 93

“There’s nothing in the Bible about a Life Review.” My hubby, a trained pastor, smiled when I brought it up.

“I know. But so many who experience one. What about that?”

Lest we start a discussion about always believing the Bible over other people and their experiences, I stopped talking. Of course, I take the Bible as my authority. But the Bible doesn’t deny life reviews - it seems it's just mum on the subject.

Is a Life Review the same as the Judgments? It appears not.

We know of no one who has made it to the Judgements spoken about in Revelation, or they wouldn’t have returned to earth. The Bible speaks of two judgments, one affecting believers (on works - after the Rapture but before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb ) and one affecting non-believers (on salvation - John 5:24 - after the Millennium). So where do Life Reviews fit in?

And what about those who specifically have an experience where an angel or someone is checking the Book of Life to see if they may enter or stay in heaven? These are good questions. God likes to retain some mystery, for sure. :-)

Revelation 3:5 talks about our names being written in the Book of Life and Malachi 3:16 speaks of a Scroll of Remembrance where names are written. Does God really check those? I suspect He already knows if we are in there or not.

I recently read an account about the Book of Life. In this person’s instance, it was made clear to him that it was only the book for that day. The list of souls that would arrive in heaven that same day. First I’ve heard of that one, but of course, it's possible. Anything is possible.

But I digress! Back to Life Reviews! My attention can be quite scattered since I came back from heaven. Apologies.

My friend Samaa, a former Muslim, also experienced a Life Review.

“Then He showed me my life. As if seeing snapshots of a movie, I watched myself growing up. The nineteen years I’d lived flashed in front of my eyes. After seeing the choices I had made, I realized I had been living for my own agenda and repented. ‘Oh, Lord Jesus, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. All my life, I’ve been living for myself - my ways, my dreams, my desires, and my plans. But it’s not about me. It’s about You. As I died for You, I want to live for You. Please give me another chance to live for Your will alone, Jesus.” Samaa Habib & Bodie Thoene, Face to Face with Jesus (Incredible book by the way, I highly recommend it. Not just a near-death experience but also about the close hand of God on this woman’s entire life.)

Is it possible that a Life Review is reserved only for some who are not staying in heaven, as a preview of things to come, a message of what is important, and as a method of accountability for our actions when we return to earth? Insight into how our everyday actions can and do affect other people? I think that is very possible.

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12 NIV).

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Perhaps it is time for you to refresh and renew? To make some changes? To go a bit deeper? Me too. Have an amazing 2025.