IF I HATE GOD, WILL I STILL GO TO HEAVEN?

IF I HATE GOD, WILL I 

STILL GO TO HEAVEN?

Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.


INTRODUCTION






Every now and then I have someone say to me, "You're one of those guys that believe you can lose your salvation, aren't you?" No, I'm not. The word lose means: to come to be without (something in one's possession or care), through accident, theft, etc., so that there is little or no prospect of recovery. I lose my car keys. I lose my debit card. I lose my belt. And I sometimes think I've lost my mind. But it is laughable to say I think someone can LOSE their salvation. No one goes to bed at night a child of God, born again, and then wakes up in the morning lost wondering where their salvation went!

Do I believe Christians are free willed moral agents that can reject God at anytime we please? Yes. Do I believe a Christian that DECIDES they no longer want to walk in the ways of the Lord and rejects Christ will go to heaven? No. Do I believe a saved man can grow so hardened by sin and Satan that he hates God and no longer wants to be His son or daughter? Yes. Do I believe a man that hates God will go to heaven? No.

No, no, no! We don't lose our salvation, but it is very possible to leave our salvation.

The Doctrine of Eternal Security, or what some call the Once in Grace Always in Grace Doctrine, has caused much confusion and has been the means of many souls dying and going to hell. My heart burns within me concerning this study. As I began to search for Biblical passages to refute this false doctrine, I quickly realized that I was over my head with scriptures. There are so many that it would take weeks to thoroughly examine each of them.

As I move forward, I must prove a couple of things. First, we must establish the fact that a man can be saved and then backslide from that faith. Finally, we must prove that the person who dies in that condition will go to hell.

I. CAN A MAN BACKSLIDE? CAN A MAN FORFEIT HIS SALVATION?

Can a man backslide; falling away from the Grace of God? This is one of the most important questions of our time. The answer is “yes” if you believe the Bible to be the infallible Word of God. There are many verses of scripture we can use to prove this point, so I will try to use the most obvious and clear cut.

A. LEAVING GOD'S GRACE.

Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Who is this passage of scripture addressing? According to the first three words of this verse he is speaking to the brethren. He warns them with the solemn words, “Take heed, BRETHREN,...” Surely that needs no interpretation! Those 3 words cannot be easily misconstrued! Paul would never refer to a man who is a sinner to be his brother. Furthermore, one only need to read the remaining verses of the chapter to see clearly he is reproving the Church.

What is he warning the brethren about? He tells them to take heed, or be very careful lest there be one of them with an evil heart of unbelief, causing them to depart from the living God.

The word “departing” means – to remove, desert, draw or fall away, refrain, or to withdraw self. Paul is clearly stating that the brethren must guard themselves from leaving the living God.

Many do not believe this. They believe that once you are saved you cannot be separated from that salvation. They use as their foundation St. John 10:29 which states:

Jo 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

I have been told that it is impossible to go back on God because we cannot be plucked from our Father’s hand. What a wonderful truth John 10:29 gives us!

No man, no devil, no sickness, no enemy can PLUCK us out of our Father’s hand! However, Hebrews 3:12 tells us that we can depart from the living God. No one can steal us away. No one can break into the hand of God and pull us from it unwillingly, but here the Bible is plain – we have a choice to stay or depart.

Let us consider another passage of scripture:

Re 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Again, the 1st thing we must establish is who Jesus is talking to. According to verse 1 of chapter 2, He is addressing the Church of Ephesus. He was not talking to sinners, He was talking to the Church – their pastor to be precise. Jesus tells them He has something against them – what was this offense? They left their 1st love! No one took their love! Noone plucked the love out of their hearts! They didn’t even lose their 1st love. They left their 1st love. They intentionally walked away and left it behind.

What does Jesus say about them who depart from the faith, or leave their 1st love - which is Christ?

Lu 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Jesus says that a man who places his hand upon the plough, yet looks back isn’t fit for the kingdom of God. How can a man that isn’t fit for the kingdom of God enter into the kingdom of God?

The putting of the hand to the plough represents the work of the Lord. Indirectly He is talking to anyone who is saved and working to further the Kingdom of God. However, He is speaking directly to the man or woman who is engaged in any type of ministry, or Christian work, including pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. All it takes for the Christian worker to be unfit for the Kingdom of God is to look back! You see, you can be ploughing and look back at the same time. Not only is the backslider in spiritual trouble, but we also find a man who ploughs while merely looking backwards to the things of the world is unfit!

B. Erring From the Truth.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

What does it mean to err from the truth? It means – to roam from safety, truth, or virtue, to go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, or be out of the way. James warns his brethren that it is possible to wander away from the truth. What is this “truth” that the brethren must not wander away from?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the truth that a man must not go astray from! If it wasn’t possible to leave Christ, why is James wasting his breath telling them this? And in all actuality, considering the Bible was inspired by God, it would be God that was wasting His breath and we know that God doesn’t waste anything. Let us figure out who James is talking to. The first word of verse 19 gives us the answer – “Brethren”. James is talking to his spiritual brethren, not a bunch of unregenerate sinners. He is telling them the importance of soul winning and what to tell the soul winner when he restores someone who has gone astray.

Look at how plain this is!

BRETHREN, if ANY OF YOU do err from the truth...

James taught that a brother in Christ could backslide, or as he said it, “err from the truth”! Here is what James is saying in a nutshell:

“Brothers, if any of you go astray from the truth, and another one of you convert him, encourage the soul winner with the knowledge he saved a soul from death.”

Now, there are 3 more points that must be brought out of this passage.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1. They Must Be Converted.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

The brother that errs from the truth must be converted. The word “convert” means – to revert, come again, or return. If a brother backslides we are to convert him back to Christ. If a man can never leave Christ how does this make sense? How can you convert, or bring a man back to something that he cannot leave? And if that man is going to heaven regardless of what he does why not leave him in sin and let him enjoy the best of both worlds?

2. The Backslider is Called a Sinner.

James 5:20a Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner ...

In verse 20 James called the brother that has erred from the truth a sinner. Again, who was it that James was talking about erring from the truth? “Brethren, if any of you err from the truth...” This man that was a brother, but now has erred from the truth, is called a sinner.

What is a sinner? Someone who sins! Do you think a sinner can go to heaven? Why don’t we let the Bible answer this question:

1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

In ourselves we can in no wise live without sin, but when a man is born again, becoming a new creature, and then yielding himself completely to Christ – he can. We aren’t sinners saved by grace! We were sinners, but when Jesus saved us we became a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people (1Pe 2:9). We were sinners, but we are now saints of God! A man that is backslid is a sinner in every respect and of the devil just like John said in the above verses.

3. Their Soul Is Saved From Death.

Ja 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

It is important that we pay close attention to the terminology here. He doesn’t say that the man’s body is saved from death; he says that the man’s soul would be saved from death. This entire passage is about the possibility of a brother erring from the truth. This man that was once called a brother is now called a sinner, and even worse is in danger of his soul dying.

Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eze 18:20a The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

For some men there will be 2 deaths. It is an obvious fact that all men will die a natural death; the Bible plainly tells us that:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Every man must die a natural bodily death, but the soul can live forever with Jesus. This erring brother is said to have been spared from the death of his soul. The death of the body is the 1st death which passes over all men. The death of the soul is the 2nd death which passes over the sinner’s soul.

Re 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Re 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Re 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This is soul death my friend! The death of the soul puts it in a lake of fire! The conversion of the backslid brethren saved his soul from hell! This is far from the deceptive teaching of the Once in Grace Always in Grace preachers.

C. Falling From Grace.

Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Outside of the Free Will Baptist Churches and a handful of Independent Baptists one of the major defining doctrinal differences between them and the majority of mainstream Christianity is the belief that once a man is saved, he can never fall from the grace of God. They teach that once a man gives his life to Christ they can never be lost regardless of how much sin they commit against God. Sadly, they are preaching heresy because the Bible plainly states that a man can fall from grace. Here, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Galatia. Notice that I didn’t say sinners in a Galatian tavern, but the Church of Galatia. They were holding to and teaching that their old Hebrew custom of circumcision profited them spiritually. Paul tells them that it profited them nothing, rather placed them back under the heavy weight of the law. Remember, he is writing to the church. He is writing to his spiritual brothers and sisters when he says:

Ga 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Let’s use a little common sense here. For a person to allow Christ to become of no effect he must have at one time been effected by Christ. For a person to fall from grace, they were obviously at one time standing on grace. Let us put this in everyday terminology. If I told you that I had fallen from a tree, wouldn’t that imply I was, at one time, in a tree? If I said that I had fallen from my car, wouldn’t that mean that I was, at one time, inside my car? Of course it does! The logical question I must ask is, “How can you fall from grace except you were one time in grace?” According to Galatians 5:4 you can absolutely fall from the grace of God.

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

C. A Quick View at Some Miscellaneous Verses.

I would like to give you a few more verses for further studying:

1. Galatians 1:6.

Ga 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Some of these Galatians had been removed from Jesus Christ and His grace.

The word “removed” means – to change sides, or to turn. How can you be removed from Christ if you weren’t at one time in Christ? They were on Christ’s side, but they had quickly changed sides. There are only 2 sides, God’s and Satan’s, and some of these Galatians had changed from Christ’s side to the enemy’s side. They had turned away from the grace that Christ gave them. This is frightening when we compare it to what Jesus said in Matthew:

Mt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Considering these Galatians are said to have changed sides and Jesus says you can only be on one side or the other what does this say for the former Galatian church members? Do you think just because they were once in Christ, but now have been removed, or backslid they can go to heaven? Christ says that a man who doesn’t cleave to Him hates Him. Except a man is found standing on Christ’s side, He will in no wise enter into heaven.

2. St. John 6:66-67.

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more  with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Does that need any interpretation? His very disciples went back and walked no
more with Him.

3. Galatians 4:9.

Ga 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Paul tells the church in Galatia that once they know God, or are known of God, it is possible to turn again to the weak and beggarly elements which had them bound in the past. The people Paul was speaking to had to be Christians because he makes mention of them turning again to those things of the past. The same principle that was stated previously applies here, they had to be saved men and women in order for there to be a possibility of them going back to the sins they had committed in their past. Had the people Paul is speaking to been sinners they would have never known God. That reminds me of another passage of scriptures:

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 FOR IT HAD BEEN BETTER for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Peter tells us that it is better for a man to never know Christ than for that man to escape the pollutions (which means – the foulness) of this world and then become entangled and overcome by them again. He says their end will be worse than their beginning. Peter is talking to a group of people that; 1. Escaped the pollutions of the world. 2. Knew the way of righteousness. 3. Had kept the holy commandments that
were delivered unto them. These people were saved and I can prove it.

1Jo 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

They were living in righteousness. These people were saved people, yet Peter says that it was better for them to never have known the Lord than to be saved and then go back! The Baptist church teaches that a man who is lost will go to hell, yet they teach that once a man  becomes a Christian, he can never forfeit his salvation, nor be punished in that awful place. They teach that when this man gives his heart to Christ he is eternally saved no matter what he does from that day forward. He is given an absolute ticket into heaven. If this is correct, why does Peter say a man would be better off to have NEVER known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn away? I mean according to the Baptist doctrine when a man comes to know Jesus he is forever saved. It wouldn’t matter what he did for the rest of his life, or how many thousands of sins he commits, he is a child of God and is going to heaven. This doctrine doesn’t make sense. You say a man is going to heaven even if he backslides. In the beginning he was going to hell, now, even though he’s backslid, he’s still going to eaven. If what you say is true, how can his end possibly be worse than his beginning. Huh?

4. Matthew 5:13.

Mt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Is there any doubt that Jesus is talking to the believer? We are the salt of the earth, but when that salt loses its taste it is good for nothing but to be cast out!

5. Hebrews 6:4.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Paul is talking to a group of people that; 1. Were enlightened. 2. Had tasted of the heavenly gift. What was that gift? (Ro 6:23b ...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.) 3. Were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. 4. Had tasted the good word of God. 5. Had tasted of the powers of the world to come. Is there any doubt that these people were saved? Paul tells them a few very important things; 1. He tells them in verse 6 that they can fall away. 2. In verse 4 he says that once they fall away it is impossible for them to feel that initial renewing of repentance they felt when they first got saved. He isn’t saying that they can’t come back to Jesus; they can come back, but it will be much harder the 2nd time around. 3. They crucify the Lord afresh. 4. They put Him to an open shame. Does that sound like a heaven bound man?

6. 1 Timothy 1:19.

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

These are said to have put away and wrecked their faith like a ship crashing upon a rocky shore. Of course the Baptist church teaches that these men who walk away from their faith and make a shipwreck of their lives with sin and evil pleasures are going to the same heaven that those that are living for God everyday are going to.

7. Hebrews 10:26.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Notice that Paul says, “if WE sin...” He includes himself in this group of people. Do we have any doubt that the Apostle Paul is saved? Here, Paul is speaking to a group of people that had received the knowledge of truth, yet he is warning them against willfully sinning. A willful sin is that which you intentionally do. Let’s be honest with ourselves, noone accidentally backslides. No one gets saved and then accidentally gets drunk or smokes a joint. You have to light that joint and put it to your mouth and then inhale. Another point that must be made is that this reference “if we sin” actually means “if we be found sinning”, that is, not an isolated, or singular act, but a state of sin as is the case of a backslider. Don’t forget that Paul is talking to people that are saved. He tells us several very powerful things; 1. Sin shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is dangerous to turn away from Christ after having known Him because He is the only sacrifice for our sins – there remaineth no other sacrifice or way to forgiveness. 3. A person that intentionally sins against Christ, as does the backslider, won’t be looking happily
toward judgement as says the Eternal Security preachers, they will approach judgment with fear and are in danger of God’s fiery indignation.

Let’s look at verses 28 and 29:

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Paul is talking to people that had received the knowledge of Jesus Christ and warns them about willfully sinning. He even includes himself, so there is no arguing the fact as to who he is referring to. He tells these Christians that if they willfully sin against Christ they are in danger of punishment because they have crucified the Lord afresh. According to the Eternal Security Doctrine these backslid church members, even
though they willfully sinned, would still go to heaven. How do you explain Paul saying they would look toward judgement with fear, not joy, and receive an even greater punishment than those that rejected the law of Moses?

II. Do Backsliders Go to Heaven?
I have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that a man can genuinely be saved, yet go back on God. I believe I have already proven that they will also be eternally separated from God, in hell, if they die in their sins, but just for the record I will finish this study with further evidence that a man cannot go to heaven living in the world, regardless of whether he claims to be saved and has been baptized so many times the fish know him by name.

1. St. John 15:1-6.
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

According to verse 5 Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. According to verse 2, every branch that doesn’t bear fruit will be taken away. Where are they taken? Verse 6 gives us the answer to that question:
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

There is only one way for a Gentile to be part of the True Vine (Jesus is Christ) and that is to be grafted in by grace (Ro 11:17-24). Only those that are saved are attached to the vine, however Jesus says that it is possible to be attached to the vine, yet be cast into the fire because of a lack of fruit. What do you think that fire represents? The Eternal Security adherents believe that a man can be saved, go back out into the world, yet die and still go to heaven even though they are committing sins and doing things that they did not do while going to church. They are saying that once a man gets saved he can go to heaven even if he lies, cheats, does drugs, commits fornication, or even adultery. The Eternal Security Doctrine is actually teaching that a man would go to heaven, even if was shot dead while in bed, committing adultery, with the wife of another man. The error with this Baptist Doctrine is in the fact that, on many occasions, the “once” man of God doesn’t remain a man of God. When committing adultery, or any other gross sin they are sinners and are on their way to hell. It’s a cop out
to say that no saved man has ever done anything like that. I have heard several Baptist men say that if a person has reverted to doing things like that they were not saved in the beginning. Many saved men have fallen into temptation and committed gross sins. The reason some Baptists say this is because there is a huge flaw in their doctrine and they can’t find any other way to explain how some men backslide. They don’t want to openly confess they believe someone can go to heaven living like a devil, so they tweak the Bible a little more to agree with
their doctrine.

2. Revelation 21:8.

Who goes to hell? Let’s let the word of God speaks for us:

Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Notice the terminology, “ALL liars”. That doesn’t mean all liars except the ones who got saved last year, but have now backslid. That doesn’t mean all whoremongers, or fornicators will be cast into a lake of fire except those that used to be good Christians, but have now backslid. It means exactly what it says, “ALL...” will have their part in the lake of fire.

3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, SHALL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

What does it mean to be unrighteous? It simply means to be not righteous. A backslider isn’t righteous, they are unrighteous and shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If a man cannot inherit the kingdom of God what shall he inherit? There are not 3 or 4 different places to spend eternity. There is only heaven and hell. If the unrighteous have no inheritance in the kingdom of God, his inheritance must be hell. The unrighteous (those who have either never been saved or those who at one time were, but now have backslid) will go to hell. Backsliders commit all sorts of sins and commit the ones Paul listed here in 1st Corinthians chapter 6. If what the Eternal Security preachers say is true, then Paul is a liar. There will actually be people inheriting the kingdom of God even though they are sinful and unrighteous. As Paul said in verse 9, “Be not deceived.”
Joh 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

The simple truth of the matter is - you have choice as to whether you go to heaven or not. Does God make people go to heaven? Do you really think a man that was once a Christian, but has lost his faith and become an atheist is still going to heaven even though he doesn’t believe in heaven? I have heard different stories about young boys that were saved at 7 years old, but turned to Satanism in their teenage years. The Satanist believes they will reign with Satan in hell. They do not want to go to heaven. Will God make them go to heaven against their will? Man was made for prayer; prayer was made for God! God has always had an intense delight in fellowship. This was the solitary purpose that God even created Adam and Eve. As the sun was setting upon the Garden of Eden, God would come to Adam with the sweet words, “Where art thou?” God loved fellowship with His created being. Man was His pride and joy, the apple of His eye because Adam loved Him by choice. You may ask, “What about the angels? Didn’t God fellowship with them?” Absolutely, but the angels were created to serve and worship God. Though they have a will to do otherwise (for example Lucifer and the fallen angels), it is not a free will. They were designed to bow and praise Him that sits high on the throne of Heaven. The angels were made to commune and have fellowship with the
Lord. Let us consider this –

Illustration – Let us say that God sent an angel to a certain man’s house. While the angel is there he gives a command to the man’s spouse saying, “From this day forward you will have to love your husband. You will no longer have a choice, rather you will be programmed to love him.” Everyday when this man comes home his wife tells him, “Honey, I love you.” Every night before they go to bed she says, “Honey, I love you.” Do you think this means a great deal to her husband? No! He knows she has no choice. This was what God was experiencing in the heavens; angels that were programmed to love Him were loving Him. Creatures that were designed to worship Him were worshiping Him. Though He enjoyed this fellowship it was not satisfying to Him. Therefore, He created Adam and Eve; two humans who had a will and could exercise it in whatever way they desired. Let us understand that God is perfectly just and right. What would it have meant to give man a will, yet not give him a means to exercise that will? Because God is perfectly just we find that He placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the midst of Eden’s paradise!

I am not sure how long the earth’s first man and woman dwelt in Eden, but for a certain period of time they willed themselves to love God and place His fellowship above all else. Then came the most tragic hour of the earth’s existence – Adam and Eve willed to do something other than God’s perfect plan. She was beguiled by the serpent; she ate the forbidden fruit; she gave it to her husband; he ate the forbidden fruit; they realized their nakedness and hid behind their fig leaves of shame. Then God called out, “Adam, Where art thou?”, but
Adam was hiding and hesitated to respond. This perfect relationship would have to change because sin entered into the world and for the first time God and man were separated.

Nothing has changed. God still desires to fellowship with someone that loves Him by choice. God doesn’t make anyone pray, worship, or serve Him. You may have wanted to serve the Lord 5 years ago, but if you decide you no longer want to, you don’t have to. And last, sin will still cause us to be banished from that heavenly paradise and away from the presence of God. Please, don’t be deceived. If you have backslid from God you are not going to  heaven. As a matter of fact your hell will be the hottest because Peter said it is better for you to had never known the Lord as opposed to having known Him and depart from Him. Come back to God! His arms are still open for you!

May God bless you!