This has been an interesting thread to read. I think of all the comments so far, Lisa's are closest to what I believe, although I'd like to elaborate on it a little.

First, I want to share some personal information to set the stage for everything else I want to share. Please indulge me. I have two small children. The oldest is in kindergarten. It would pain me a great deal if one or both did not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and then seek to follow Him. I realize, however, that I cannot control everything they do and it wouldn't be right for me to do so either. Sooner or later, they are going to grow up and leave home (at least, that's the plan). When that time comes I hope I have prepared them to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. Until then, I teach them and try to influence them to do the things that will make them happy and successful.

I believe that God is my Heavenly Father. Like any loving parent, He wants to share the best mortality has to offer with His children. He wants them to make wise choices. He wants them to know that He loves them.

Just like I am wiser than my children, He is wiser than all of us. He sees the world with all its suffering, death and evil differently than we do; its all apart of His plan for us. According to the plan, our existence is divided into three segments. This life is the second. I've heard it described like the second act of a three-part play or the middle book of a trilogy. We don't remember the first act, when we lived with him (and everyone else) because the purpose of this second act is to test us--to found out the real desires of our hearts--and to give us the experience with opposites that we could not get in His presence. Only by coming to this world, without any memory of our prior existence, could the test yield accurate results.

However, Father in Heaven has not left us completely alone. He influences us all the time. Our conscience is one way; it helps us discern between good and evil. He has spoken with prophets like Adam, Abraham, Moses and Isaiah. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to model a perfect life for us to follow.

History has demonstrated over and over that some people follow those influences and bless others as a result, while other people live contrary to those influences with disastrous effect. A lot of people fall in the middle, however, not leading particularly exemplary lives, but not being particularly evil either. Just as I cannot live my children's lives for them and could be disappointed by some of their choices, God permits this because He values each of us and our agency so much.

If this is the second part of the trilogy, then the life after we die, commonly referred to as heaven and hell, is the final installment. Only Heavenly Father knows how it will turn out. At that time, He will determine who will return to His presence and who will not. Some will not want to return and even God will feel their loss, but He will not make that choice for them. However, since only He knows the content of their hearts--atheist or believer--I think there will be a lot of surprises about who ends up where.

In spite of all this, I believe the presence of God is a wonderful place filled with eternal joy, peace and happiness. Just as my children are too immature to understand adulthood at this point in their lives, we too can only guess what it will be like. His promises are sure, however, whatever He has in store for His children will eclipse everything that we suffer and lose during this life.

I hope that gives you something positive to think about. Above all else, have hope. People can literally change overnight and we never know what tomorrow will bring. If we trust in Him all things will eventually work out for our benefit.

Check out my music at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/transdimensional-sheet-music/3017506
Like me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/transdimensionalmusic1
Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AaronCorley1