Where Will You Be After Death?

 

Q. That is kind of a morbid question isn’t it?

 

A. Yes it is, but it is something that every human being must face for there is no

one that escapes death. The people in the World Trade Center on

September 11, 2001 expected a routine day at work and to return home at

night.

(Psa 49:10 KJV) For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the

brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others

 

Q. How can you be sure there is an afterlife?

 

A. The Bible teaches that there are one of two places a person will spend eternity:

Heaven or Hell.

(2 Cor 5:8 KJV) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from

the body, and to be present with the Lord

(Psa 9:17 KJV) The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that

forget God

 

Q. I believe I will go to Heaven because I have never done anything bad in my

life, like stealing or murder. Those who do these things should go to Hell

because they are the wicked, right?

 

A. The problem with that philosophy is that God views sin as sin, no matter how

we trivialize it. One sin can send a person to Hell. A lustful look or thought is

a sin equal to murder and will condemn a person to Hell.

(Mat 5:28 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust

after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart

 

Q. Does God make a distinction between little sins like "little white lies" and big

sins like murder?

 

A. In the Bible there is no difference. All sin will lead to eternal damnation.

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

judgment:

(Luke 12:5 KJV) But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which

after he hath killed hath power to cast into Hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him

 

Q. Okay, then would you give me a good definition of sin?

 

A. God does not make the definition complex. Sin is the breaking of God’s holy

law.

(1 John 3:4 KJV) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for

sin is the transgression of the law.

 

Q. Well I don’t break His law, I go to church, I give to charity and live a decent,

moral life. Doesn’t that count for something?

 

A. Unfortunately, it is only good for society that you do not break the law, but in

God’s sight, every single human being has broken His law and sinned.

(Rom 3:10 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

(Rom 3:23 KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(1 Ki 8:46 KJV) If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,

and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they

carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

 

Q. On earth, if someone has done wrong, they are innocent until proven guilty.

Will each person have an opportunity to explain to God why they did things?

 

A. They sure will. It is called the Great White Throne Judgment when all human

beings must give an account to God. However, when a person shows up at

this Judgment, there will be NO mercy shown, and they shall be cast into

eternal Hell.

(Rev 20:11-15 KJV) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no

place for them. {12} And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;

and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the

book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written

in the books, according to their works. {13} And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it; and death and Hell delivered up the dead which were in

them: and they were judged every man according to their works. {14} And

death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. {15}

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake

of fire.

 

Q. Do you mean I will be judged too?

 

A. Yes, unless Christ becomes your Savior, you will be judged for ALL actions in

your life. This means that everything you did in secret, said in secret, and

heard in secret, will be brought to light.

(1 Cor 4:5 KJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,

who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make

manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of

God.

(Psa 64:5 KJV) They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune

of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

(Psa 90:8 KJV) Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in

the light of thy countenance.

(Eccl 12:14 KJV) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every

secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

Q. It is obvious that according to the Bible, that ALL humans are sinful and are

under the wrath of God. Does this mean there is no hope of going to

Heaven?

 

A. It is true that every human being is under the wrath of God, but that is not the

end. God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world for the purpose

of redeeming His people.

(Mat 1:21 KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name

JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

(Rom 5:8 KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Q. I have read the catechism, confessions, creeds of my church and have taken

Communion, plus I was baptized. Doesn’t that count for something?

 

A. Unfortunately, going through the rituals, traditions and membership of a

church does not guarantee anyone salvation. In fact, many churches teach

that a person becomes saved at baptism and through their ceremonies.

Jesus even chided the Pharisees and Sadducees (the religious rulers of

Israel) for believing that just because they read the Scriptures, their salvation was

guaranteed.

(John 5:39 KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal

life: and they are they which testify of me.

(Mark 7:9 KJV) And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment

of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

 

Q. Now I am really worried. I can’t do good works! I can’t rely on church

traditions or ceremonies! I have broken God’s Holy law! So then how does

one get to Heaven?

 

A. The answer to that question is YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

(John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto

thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

(1 Pet 1:23 KJV) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

Q. I have heard that term "born again" for many years, but just do not understand

what that means. Could you give me a brief explanation?

 

A. The term, "born again," actually means "born from above." It denotes the

result of God removing the sins of a person and indwelling them with the Holy

Spirit (the third person of the triune Godhead) who makes them alive

unto God. It is basically a spiritual resurrection, which makes a person clean

before God, as if they never sinned.

(Psa 103:12 KJV) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed

our transgressions from us.

(Eph 1:13 KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were

sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(1 Cor 15:22 KJV) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made

alive.

(Rev 14:5 KJV) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without

fault before the throne of God.

 

Q. It seems God’s requirements for salvation are very narrow, and it is evident

that of myself, I could never attain salvation. So how then can I become

saved? I don’t want to go to Hell!

 

A. A person must come to God for salvation on God’s terms and not man’s. The

sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was equivalent to an eternity in Hell. Jesus paid

for the sins of those He came to save. If one is going to become saved, they

must receive the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.

(John 1:12-13 KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to

become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: {13} Which

were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but

of God.

(John 6:37 KJV) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that

cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

(John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It

is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 

Q. How then do I receive Jesus as Savior?

 

A. God gives you the faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you are one

of those whom Christ came to save, then you will be drawn to the Lord Jesus,

and you will readily admit you are a sinner and will want Him to be your

Savior. Only a person whom God has qualified to receive salvation through

Christ will desire salvation.  The others will mock.

(John 6:44 KJV) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent

me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

(Luke 18:13 KJV) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so

much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be

merciful to me a sinner.

(2 Tim 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if

God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the

truth;

 

Q. Can I wait until I am older?

 

A. The problem is that hundreds of thousands of people tied their shoes this

morning but the undertaker will untie them tonight. Remember the

answer to question number 1!

(Prov 27:1 KJV) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day

may bring forth.
(2 Cor 6:2 KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in

the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted

time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

 

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