Where Will You Be After You Die?
Where will you be after you die? Isn’t that the million dollar question? So many have sought for a way to beat death. Billions are spent each year on health products to try to extend the length of one’s life and yet the fact is that everyone eventually dies. Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer, discovered Florida in 1569, while searching for the fabled Fountain of Youth. It was said that to drink from this water one would receive perpetual youth. He and many others died while futilely trying to find this magic fountain. Some have said that there are two things for sure: death and taxes. If one cannot beat death, then it becomes important to find out what is waiting for us on the other side.
Jesus told the story of two men who died. (Luke 16.19-31) One was a rich man and another a poor beggar. The rich man went to Hell, (Hades), and Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom, (Heaven). Here Jesus reveals that there are only two destinations after death: Heaven or Hell. There are no Purgatories or states of limbo or Nirvanas or Reincarnations, just Heaven or Hell. Which one we end up in is determined in this life and not after one dies. The rich man tried to change this fact, but he couldn’t. All his money couldn’t save him, nor could he go back to warn his family of this undesired end.
Hell was made for the devil and his angels, (Mat. 25.41). God takes no pleasure in mankind going to Hell. Hell was not made for them, but because of sin, that became his destiny. Everyone has sinned and sin places each one of us under the influence and rule of the devil. The place of torment, reserved for the devil, became man’s destiny. The Bible is very clear on this point, that if one remains in his sin, when he dies he will go to Hell.
Heaven, or Paradise, is God’s desired destination for each one of us, yet to get there sin must be removed. Sin placed man in bondage, thus man cannot save himself. It is like being in jail, someone from outside must open the door. Jesus, being sinless, came to earth for that very purpose; to save mankind from their sins. So how did He do this? He took all our sins on Himself, died in our place and went to Hell. (Acts 2.27) The cell door is open and we can go free. But what happened to Jesus? Did He stay in Hell? No. Hell couldn’t keep him. Sin has a price, which is death, and that price was paid for when Jesus died. Divine justice was satisfied, but because He had never sinned, that same justice that paid for our release from sin raised Jesus from dead.
To get out of your sin-jail, you must believe what Jesus did for you is truth. Believe that He died on the cross on your behalf and that He rose from the dead. Do you believe this? Then confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior and get out of that sin-jail. There is nothing that can keep you in prison anymore. All those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. You can be saved today just pray this prayer of faith:
Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross and rose from the dead. Forgive me of my sins take control of my life. Thank you for saving me and coming into my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Mat. 25.41; Rom. 3.23; 6.16, 23; 10.9-10; John 3.16; Luke 16.19-31; I Cor. 15.3,4