AFTER DEATH, WHAT?

HOW many times have you looked into a casket, seen the face of the deceased, and listened to the following statements: “He sure has suffered, but he is better off now,” or “She is at peace, never to suffer anymore.” ?

Dear reader, if the deceased had accepted Christ as Lord and Saviour and had been born again, these are correct statements. The Apostle Paul said this of Christians: “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whlist we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

However, if the deceased died in a lost spiritual condition, his troubles have just began. The instant his soul leaves his body, it goes directly to hell to burn for ever and ever. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17). The Bible states that hell is a place “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:44). Listen to the voice of the rich man crying out from hell: “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bossom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bossom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:22-14)

Perhaps someone looked at the face of this rich man as he was prepared for burial, and remarked that he was at peace now, never to suffer anymore. How wrong their statement would have been! As they were saying beautiful words over his body, his soul was screaming from the pits of hell. Suffering does not end at death for a loss person. After ten million years of eternity, he will still be burning. If you are spiritually lost and die in that condition, then you too will be doomed to a burning hell.

You might wonder what you must do to escape this torment in hell. The answer is the same one that Jesus gave to Nicodemus. “Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). Just as you were born physically, you must be born spiritually to reach the portals of heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

You are not promised another day on this earth. Tomorrow might be too late. Now is the time to do something about your lost condition.”…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…” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Right now, while there is still life in your body, will you repent of your sins and call upon Jesus Christ to come into your heart and save your soul?” “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9,13). “But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12). The decision is yours. Where will your soul be when they are preaching your funeral? Your life might end before another hour passes and your soul will be somewhere for eternity. Will you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and be confident of everlasting life in heaven?

If you will accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please pray this prayer with all of your heart: Dear God, I admit I am a sinner, going to hell. I know that I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and put my faith in the blood you shed for me on the cross to pay for all my sins. I now accept you as my Saviour and trust you to take me to heaven. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

(taken from www.fellowshiptractleague.org)