Where will you spend your eternity? Part 2

The last time I wrote, I felt the urge to share on the subject of the afterlife. I briefly touched on the different beliefs regarding the afterlife and plunged extensively into the discussion of heaven; attempting to answer daunting yet pragmatic questions like: “Does heaven exist?” “Who gets to go to heaven?” This of course is one of the most cardinal topics and my bit of understanding on it is not to necessarily cover it in depth as I am sure Theologians would do a much commendable job on it but to highlight certain aspects. As promised, this is will be a continuation.

The weekend I posted the first part of this article; I happened to receive tragic news about the passing away of a childhood friend – in a car accident. It was heart-breaking and emotionally mutilating. I had a hard time coming to terms with it and the memories of his playful, friendly, persistent, down to earth and hardworking persona were not making it any easier. In the midst of the mourning throes, it hit me hard that one may not know the time and day when they will depart earth. And in that moment this topic became so much relevant: “Where will you spend your eternity?” On the very same week, yet another tragic passing was reported; of Dr Miles Munroe. The world was shaken and I am sure people were baffled by the nature and circumstances at which the man of God departed, “How can a man of God die in such a manner?” “Couldn’t God at least warn him not to get on the plane or protect the plane from crashing, surely God is all powerful He could have done that.” This is not to question God and His sovereignty but to emphasize the sensitivity of not knowing the time or day of departure; saved or unsaved. Yes some things the Lord does reveal and some remain undisclosed – known to Him alone. 

In the previous article, it was discussed that I) As human beings we have been given freewill by God; the freedom to choose what we want to believe in. II) There is a destination for the soul beyond physical living called Heaven and Hell. III) Contravening popular claims state that heaven if for a select few yet heaven is for everyone; on condition that an individual gets born-again and accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. IV) Christianity is a love relationship between God and His people and not a set of rubrics to follow. V) As beings that have been be granted freewill, our choices have consequences and we will be held accountable for the choices made.

Today my subject is hell; eternal damnation. Mark 9:43 asserts, “And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell (Gehenna), into the fire that cannot be put out.” Yikes! Talk about an expedient approach to dealing with sin. Which I believe is hyperbolic to warn of hell’s gruesome experience. Matthew 13:42 affirms that in hell there is weeping, wailing and gnashing (grinding of teeth). There is nothing desirable about hell. From the two passages quoted it is noted that in hell I) There is fire that cannot be put out. II) There is weeping. III) Sorrow and Pain. Imagine experiencing that for forever without any break. I will try and explain ‘forever’ which is quite unfathomable but anyway I’ll attempt. The Bible says in Revelations 1:8, God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The One Who is, Who Was and Who is to come. He has been before, He is now and He will be. He has always been present and will ever be present. Now Genesis 1:26 stipulates that man is made in the image and likeness of God; made of spirit, soul and body. Since God Is and will ever Be, man also is and will also ever be. That is forever! You will continue to exist even beyond death; in your soul - the soul never dies. I feel like my mind is already getting intertwined by just trying to explain this alone, how much more understanding it? It needs revelation more than knowledge.

Luke 16:19 is a salient passage in chronicling the contrasting images and experiences of heaven and hell. And much more to that, it is evidence that the two places exist - their existence is not a myth. It is about two men, one wealthy and one poor named Lazarus who both die; one going to hell and the other to heaven. I would recapitulate its events but I prefer to relate it as is. Verse 23-31, “23. In Hades he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24. And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame…26. Abraham replied “Between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross from over there to us. And he replied, 27. “Then I beg you send him to my father’s house for I have five brothers – so that he may give [solemn] testimony and warn them, lest they too come into this place of torment” 29. But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear and listen to them.” 30. But he answered, No father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent (change their minds for better and heartily amend their ways with abhorrence of their past sins). 31. He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe if someone should rise from the dead.”

Significant findings in the passage are that: 1. In hell there is agony and pain from being tormented in the fire (that cannot be put out). This means that possibly all five senses are functioning as they were in the flesh before death; one can feel, touch, hear, see and taste. You are basically alive and experience all the pain but never die – forever! Who would want to go to such a place? 2. There is a chasm fixed, meaning that there is no jumping ship when you are on the other side of life. You can’t change your mind or decide to repent in the afterlife. The only chance you have to make things right is now whilst you live in the flesh, before death. 3. It is unfortunate that most people only choose to discover the reality of heaven and hell when they are already dead and are living in eternity. I’ll explain just now why I say choose. 4. The one way to be redeemed from eternal damnation in hell is to repent of your sins and seek to live a righteous life that will honour God. 5. God has appointed His Prophets (men and women who preach the gospel day and night) therefore there is no excuse. Because We choose not to repent, We disparage the gospel, We dispel that Jesus Christ died for our sins that we might be saved, We choose to live our lives and forsake salvation, and at the end We shall be held accountable for these choices.

If you are interested in knowing more about eternal damnation, maybe this has not been clear or convincing enough; I would suggest a book by Mary K. Baxter titled, “A Divine Revelation of Hell.” This is not to scare or to condemn but it is to warn and to remind every individual reading this that you have a choice between eternal life and death. And this is not to say it is only for those who might not believe but it is also for born-again individuals. Sometimes as Christians we can lose our sense of focus and forget the real reason why we are even saved, why we are called to a life of righteousness therefore in the end forfeiting our eternal glory in heaven. This life is passing and we ought to live with the end in mind. 

My next article will be the closing discussion which is the core of this topic, “where will you spend your eternity?” It will highlight what is expected of a believer and an unbeliever in relation to salvation, living right and acknowledging the truth of the gospel. The first two have been a foundation to breed understanding, and evidently depict the reality of heaven and hell especially for those who may not be familiar with this information.  

Much love, Be blessed