Blog

No matter who you are, race, gender, status, occupation, preferences, beliefs, or finances, there is one thing that every one of us will experience.

Can you guess what it is?

Death.

There’s no getting around it. It will happen for every person at some point.

So, we pose the question today, what happens when you die? What’s next?

And my next question is, how did you arrive at that answer?

We can have assumptions, beliefs, and ideals about what happens when we die, but if you want the truth, you must go to the source. The words of the very Creator of life are written in a book called the Bible.

In it, we learn there are in fact destinations for the human soul after death. Throughout the pages of scripture, we find 2 places mentioned, Heaven (also called eternal life) and Hell (in the OT it was called Sheol, the pit, the grave). Each is the complete opposite of the other.

In Hell, there is pain, torment, fire, suffering, darkness, separation, and the absence of everything good.

In Heaven, there is joy, worship, love, light, goodness, love and life.

What determines where you will go when you die?

The decision you make today about one question – Who is Jesus?

John 14:1-7

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus makes it clear that in order to receive eternal life in Heaven, the only way is to believe in Him.

Believe that He is the one and only Son of God. Believe that He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and 3 days later rose from the grave and is with the Father.
Believe that He is the way, the only way.

By believing in Him and surrendering our life to Him, we accept who He is, what He did for us, and trust our lives to His care.

When we do this, we become citizens of Heaven. We have an eternal home waiting for us where we will never be separated from the love of God again. (Phil. 3:20)

What if you don’t believe all of this? Or what if you choose to believe in many gods and that Jesus is one of them? Or what if you believe there are many ways to heaven and this one is a good way for some people?

Then, my friend, the harsh reality, but the truth, is that according to God’s Word, you would be wrong.

Anyone who does not know Jesus and accept Him as the ONLY way to Heaven will not receive eternal life. Instead, their destination after death will be in Hell.

The Word of God speaks more about Hell than it does Heaven. Why? Because God loves us and desires for us to know Him, to be restored to Him and to save us from what’s ahead if we reject Him. These words serve as a warning, just like a big sign that says Danger Up Ahead. If you saw the sign, you’d slow down, maybe try to see exactly what the danger is and when you see the horrific truth of it, you turn around.

That’s exactly what God wants from us.

Turn away from the ways of the world. Turn away from doing what’s “right” in our own eyes. And turn to Him.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have nothing to fear about death. You’re moving from your temporary residence to your permanent home.

But, if you aren’t… if you reject Jesus and this truth, you will spend eternity separated from Him in a place of unimaginable pain and suffering.

There’s no better time to come to the Lord than the present moment. It’s a gift He’s given you. Will you accept it?

Hear His calling and respond.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.