Hebrews 9:27, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”
After your body dies your spiritual soul will be sent to hell or brought to heaven. Then after Jesus comes to earth and judges the world, hell will be thrown into the lake of fire for eternity and heaven’s citizens will live forever on the new earth with Jesus in resurrected bodies (Revelation 20:13-21:1).
The Bible is very clear that there are no other options. Such things as “purgatory” and “reincarnation” are only myths promoted by false teachers. Sad, but true, the origin of purgatory (a middle place between heaven and hell for the purging of sin) in the Roman Catholic church had more to do with greed than biblical evidence. The money-loving priests promised freedom from the torment of purgatory for those who gave “indulgences.” These fees were developed in the Dark Ages to fill the pockets of the popes in Rome to expand their empire. And reincarnation is a demonic lie with its roots in pagan religions like Hinduism. Certainly, Jesus, nor the Bible, ever taught either one.
What you do in this life will determine where you will be for all of eternity. Everyone will exist in the after life, both the wicked and the righteous, however, where you will be is determined by your acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Some skeptics question God’s goodness because they think it would be unfair for Him to punish people’s temporary sins with eternal punishment. However, I thank God for His eternal judgments because they display the glory of His might and His great love for His people (Revelation 15:3-4). God wouldn’t be a good God if He simply overlooked evil and He wouldn’t be just if He didn’t permanently remove people from His presence that rejected Him in their life. Also, though man’s sins are temporary in their life, they are against an eternal God, therefore, they have eternal consequences. Also, God didn’t have to give humanity another chance, because the angels are now eternally damned based on their one and only choice.
Humanity not only received another chance after Adam, but most of us have had many chances. Someone could respond, “Why did He create us then, if He knew so many would reject Him?” Simple, Jesus wanted to be in relationship with those who wanted Him, even if it meant many would reject Him. God is responsible for creating us with choice (whether you like it or not), but you are responsible for the choices you make (whether you like the consequences or not).
God is not going to force people to love Him. The most loving thing Jesus did was give humanity a choice to either accept or reject Him. A wise man once said, “Hell is exactly what sinners want- an eternity without God. And heaven, is exactly what saints want- an eternity with their precious Jesus!”
Reflection
Where will you go when you die?
Action
- Repent of any anger you may have towards God because He created you with the responsibility of making a choice with an eternal consequence.
- Be born again by faith and choose to love God by obeying all His commands.
- Tell others what will happen when they die.
