There are truths in this life that no amount of prayer, fasting, philosophy, or science can fully reveal. They are truths reserved for eternity truths that can only be understood when we finally cross over into the next reality. And the painful part is this: many so-called men of God pretend to already know them, using that false confidence to manipulate those who are desperate for clarity.
Growing up, I watched pastors claim to have special revelations of heaven. They described streets of gold, angelic choirs, mansions of glory, and eternal crowns. They painted vivid pictures of paradise as if they had already toured the place themselves. But deep down I always wondered: Have they really seen it? Or are they just recycling what they read from the Bible, adding drama to capture the imagination of their followers?
Because let's be honest no man has died, gone to heaven, and returned with a full report. All the visions and near-death stories we hear are fragments, not the whole truth. They may be real, or they may be the product of imagination and desperation. The ultimate reality remains hidden, locked away until our souls leave this earthly body.
And that is where the deception lies. Instead of teaching people to live their best lives here on earth, many pastors dangle the mystery of heaven like a carrot on a stick. They say, "Endure poverty, endure oppression, endure injustice your reward will be in heaven." They use the promise of paradise to silence the cries of the oppressed. But if heaven is truly as glorious as they describe, why do they themselves chase money, fame, and power so aggressively here on earth?
The truth is this: heaven is not fully describable by human language. Even the Bible says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." If this is true, then how come pastors give detailed architectural breakdowns of heaven? Streets of gold, pearly gates, countless mansions do these metaphors capture the fullness of eternity, or are they simplified images meant to help human minds grasp the ungraspable?
Another truth that can only be known in heaven is the question of fairness. Why are some born into wealth while others are born into suffering? Why do some children live long while others die before they learn to speak? Why does one man's prayer for healing get answered, while another dies despite all-night vigils? On earth, no pastor can fully answer these. They give half-truths: "It is God's will." "It is your destiny." "It is a test of faith." But the complete picture why things happen the way they do will only be revealed beyond this world.
And then there is the matter of judgment. Who really makes it to heaven? Is it the churchgoer who prays every Sunday but cheats in business? Is it the Muslim who shows kindness daily but never professes Christ? Is it the poor man who had no chance to hear the gospel? Or the child who dies before understanding right from wrong? These questions pierce the soul, but they cannot be fully answered here. Only in heaven or perhaps only in God's heart do the answers dwell.
One thing I've realized is that ignorance often breeds arrogance. Because people do not know the truth, they cling to dogmas and rituals, believing that following them guarantees heaven. Meanwhile, the real truth how God judges, how eternity works, what destiny really means remains hidden. This hiddenness should make us humble, but instead it has made many people gullible and pastors manipulative.
Personally, I no longer allow myself to be enslaved by anyone who claims to know heaven's secrets. I acknowledge my ignorance, but I also acknowledge my faith. My hope is not in the words of men who twist scripture to enrich themselves. My hope is in the God who created me, the God who sees beyond religion, beyond titles, beyond denominations.
And maybe, just maybe, this is the point: that we are not meant to know everything now. Perhaps life itself is a test of how we will walk in uncertainty whether we will choose fear or bravery, faith or manipulation, humility or arrogance. The truths we long for may remain locked away until the day we stand face to face with the Creator. Until then, all we can do is live, question, hope, and keep walking forward