I think the flip side of that is true, as well: that God loves you and that everything he does for you is likewise through that "lens of love", because he wants what is best for you.
As straightforward as this concept may appear, it also seems at odds with what Jesus said in John 14:6 : "... no one comes to the Father except through me". Many Christians interpret this to mean that if you don't accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior while on this earth, you will forever be condemned to an eternity in hell. I'm not so sure it's that simple, and to me, it doesn't jive with the notion of a loving God.
Now, I do actually believe that you only get to God through Jesus. However, I believe it with the following caveats:
1. You can do this after death as well as in life.
2. The way you live your life is the way you live your afterlife (and subsequently, dictates whether you go to "heaven" or "hell")
3. I absolutely do not believe in the literal "fire and brimstone" notion of hell. I believe hell is, quite simply, being removed from God.
Allow me to expand further:
One of my favorite books by C.S. Lewis is called "The Great Divorce". In story-like fashion, it paints a picture of what Lewis speculates heaven and hell might be like. Hell is, in essence, populated by self-absorbed people who cannot let go of their earthly desires, be it for money, fame, or physical pleasures. It is a depressing place to live, not because its residents are on fire with sulfur, but because everyone is so self-centered, jealous, greedy, spiteful and everything else they were while alive. Once in a while, a bus arrives from heaven and transports hell's residents to heaven. Heaven is a bright, beautiful, breathtaking place to live, and each passenger meets an "angel" of sorts who tries to persuade him/her to move to heaven. It is not an easy feat: because they are not well-developed, they cannot easily move about heaven. Even walking on blades of grass is a tormenting and near-impossible endeavor. The angels assure them, however, that with time and further development, their ghostly bodies will become stronger and more solid, and better able to navigate the heavenly realm. One by one, however, the angels fail as the passengers shrink away from this notion of hard work, offering up excuse after excuse. One man, a musician, must get back to hell so he can give a grand performance (vanity). Another is unwilling to give up his giant, luxurious mansion in hell (greed). Another man is unable to let go of his addictions (manifested in the form of a demon attached to his shoulder) because he cannot bear the initial, fleeting pain of slaying the demon, and because he has grown accustomed to having this demon around as a crutch. As with everyone else who eventually boards the bus back to hell, he cannot look past his earthly desires and feelings to see that a small amount of pain in giving them up is worth it to be able to live in paradise.
This story exemplifies the notion the way you are now, in life, is the way you will be when you die.
This also ties in to my belief that you have a chance to accept Christ when you die.
HOWEVER. (before you get up in arms about that statement) This does not mean that I believe you can conduct yourself willy-nilly and do anything you like when you're alive, because you've got a "last chance" conversion opportunity the moment you die. It doesn't work that way, either, because it all boils down to the condition of your heart.
The man who religiously attends church, tithes, and outwardly professes piety but inwardly remains full of deception, greed, envy, lust and vanity, will likewise carry these "deadly sins" with him when he dies, affecting his ability to fully embrace Christ, both while living and when dead.
The staunch atheist today? Will continue to be a staunch atheist when he dies. He will carry this closed-heartedness with him, so that even when faced with Jesus himself, he will refuse to believe.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is someone like my grandmother, who is the most selfless, caring and kind person I've ever met-- much more so than many so-called Christians. Her heart and ensuing behavior are the epitome of "Christ-like". But she happened to be raised in a country that had different (or none at all) religious beliefs. Many Christians would say that yes, indeed, she'd spend an eternity removed from God, simply because she wasn't fortunate enough to grow up in a place where God was talked about. I don't buy that. I believe that if she had had the opportunity to learn about God and Jesus while she was alive, she would have readily accepted him. And that's the main thing: she had a heart that was already receptive to Christ! When she died and met her maker, I have no doubt that she willingly accepted him then.
In a nutshell, to me, "going through Christ" does not necessarily involve openly professing belief in him, saying the sinner's prayer, and getting baptized. To me, "going through Christ" means being Christ-like yourself-- having a heart that is open to him. Everything else just naturally flows from there, from accepting God and Jesus to doing what its right, not because it's an "insurance" maneuver to secure a place in heaven, but because it's what you feel is the right thing to do. Going to heaven (i.e. spending eternity in God's presence)? Also flows naturally from all that.
It all boils down to the condition of your heart. God sees your heart, and allows you to respond accordingly, no matter what your circumstances. That, to me, is love.
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