Youth Q&A — Why do I NEED to journey through this life if Heaven is the goal?
This question was sent in by a student during a Q&A session with the Good Fight Youth Group:
“Why do I have to live through life if I’m just going to Heaven when I pass?”
That’s a heavy question.
But it’s an honest one. And I think a lot of people — if they were brave enough — would admit they’ve asked the same thing.
If heaven is real, and eternity with Jesus is the endgame, why not just skip to the good part? Why live through the pain, the struggle, the heartbreak?
Why does this life even matter?
Here’s where I’d start:
Jesus is writing a love story.
Not just any love story.
The greatest love story ever told.
And guess what? You’re in it. You’re one of the main characters.
But let’s think about love stories for a second. Have you ever watched a movie where two characters randomly fall in love — no struggle, no conflict, no tension — and it just feels… hollow? Unbelievable?
Like, sure, they’re in love, but it doesn’t feel earned. There’s no depth. No real connection.
Now, compare that to the kind of story where love is forged in the fire. Where the hero fights for the girl. Where sacrifice and struggle make their bond unbreakable.
Which one feels more real? Which one makes your heart come alive?
The second one, right?
That’s what Jesus is after.
You see, God didn’t just create you for a destination. He created you for a relationship.
A love that’s deep and real and raw. A love that’s worth everything.
But real love isn’t easy. It’s not instant. It’s not microwave popcorn.
It’s grown through the highs and the lows. The victories and the defeats. The moments when life feels good and the moments when you’re not sure you can take another step.
Jesus could’ve skipped straight to the end. He could’ve created a world where we never struggle, never hurt, never question.
But that wouldn’t be love. That would be robots.
Love — real love — requires choice.
And choice requires life.
This life is where we learn to choose Him. To trust Him. To love Him not just for what He gives us, but for who He is.
And here’s the crazy part:
Jesus didn’t just sit back and watch us struggle.
He entered into the story. He became the hero who rescues the girl — not with a sword or a white horse, but with a cross.
He lived the highs and lows. The joy and the heartbreak. He knows what it’s like to feel pain, to cry, to question.
Why?
Because He loves you.
And because He wants you to know that this life — your story — isn’t meaningless.
So, why do you have to live through life if you’re just going somewhere when you pass?
Because this life is part of the love story.
It’s the chapter where you learn to love Him back. Where your faith is tested and strengthened. Where your heart is shaped and refined.
And yes, it’s hard. Sometimes unbearably hard.
But it’s worth it.
Because when you get to the end — when you see Him face to face — you won’t just know about His love.
You’ll know it.
Because you’ve lived it. You’ve experienced it. You’ve chosen it, over and over, in the middle of the mess.
Here’s the thing: Life isn’t just about where you’re going.
It’s about who you’re becoming along the way.
And Jesus? He’s not just waiting for you at the finish line.
He’s walking with you, right here, right now, every step of the journey.
Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Because He’s not just writing a story. He’s writing your story.
And it’s a love story worth living.
Youth Q&A — Why do I NEED to journey through this life if Heaven is the goal? was originally published in GoodLion Theology on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
