Is there life after death? The existence of life after death is a question universally made by mankind. Job spoke for us all when asked, Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, out like a flower and is cut down, and flees like a shadow and does not remain ... if a man die, shall he return to live? (Job 14:1-2, 14). Like Job, almost all of us have been challenged by this question. What exactly happens after we die? Do we simply exist? Is life a revolving door that exits and returns to earth in order to achieve personal greatness? Are all go to the same place, or go to different places? Is there really a heaven and a hell? The Bible tells us that there is not only life after death, but there is an eternal life so glorious that Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came to earth to give us the gift of eternal life. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus took the punishment that each of us deserve and sacrificed his life. Three days later, He was victorious over death by rising from the grave. He remained on earth for forty days and was seen by thousands before ascending to heaven. Romans 4:25 says, Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. The resurrection of Christ was a well documented event. The Apostle Paul challenged people to question eyewitnesses of the validity of the resurrection, and no one was able to challenge this truth. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith; because Christ rose from the dead, we can have faith that we will also be resurrected. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof of life after death. Christ was only the first of a great harvest of people who will be resurrected back to life. Physical death came through a man, Adam, who are all related. But all who have been adopted into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive new life (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Just as God raised Jesus body, and our bodies will be resurrected when Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:14) again. Although eventually all be resurrected, not all will go to heaven. In this life, each person must make a decision, and this will determine your eternal destiny. The Bible says it is appointed for us to die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Those who have been made righteous by faith in Christ will go to eternal life in heaven, but those who reject Christ as Savior will be sent to eternal punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46). Hell, like heaven, is not only a state of existence, but a literal and very real place. It is a place where the unrighteous will experience the eternal wrath of God without end. They bear emotional, mental and physical torments knowingly suffering from shame, remorse and contempt. Hell is described as an endless abyss (Luke 8:31, Revelation 9:1), and a lake of fire that burns with sulfur, where the inhabitants will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20: 10). In hell, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, kicking off intense grief and anger (Matthew 13:42). This is a place where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48). God does not want the death of the wicked, but turn from his evil way to live (Ezekiel 33:11). But God will not force us into submission. If we choose to reject it, He accepts our decision to live apart from Him forever. Life on earth is a test - a preparation for what is to come. For believers, is eternal life in the immediate presence of God. For unbelievers, life after death is an eternity in the lake of fire. So how can we receive eternal life and avoid an eternity in the lake of fire? There is only one way - through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he dies, will live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die ... (John 11: 25-26). The free gift of eternal life is available to all. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). We will not be given the opportunity to receive Gods gift of eternal life after death. Our eternal destiny is determined during life on earth, by our acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ. Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2) If we trust in Jesus death as the payment for our sin against God, we are not only ensures a meaningful life on earth, but also eternal life after death in the glorious presence of Christ.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 09:45:36 +0000
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