Where Are You Going When You Die? :: By Rita Peck

There are at least two things in life that you can be assured of. You have to pay taxes and you will die. You might, however, get around having to pay a lot of taxes if you make little or no money or have good lawyers and accountants…But there is no getting around dying. It is a sure thing. Have you ever thought about what happens when that day comes?

Do you think you are going to party with all of your friends in hell, smoke weed, have keggers every night…and hang out with famous people? Or do you think that once

you die you will just cease to exist? Here today, gone tomorrow…there is nothing after this life…

Or do you think you’ll be in heaven with God because God is a loving God and would never send anyone to hell? After all, you have been a pretty good person. You are kind to animals… and nice to those who deserve it. You’ve never robbed a bank and you certainly have never murdered anyone! And, besides, hell doesn’t even exist!

Well I hate to break the news to you, but you are wrong on all counts! Hell is very real. God’s Word─the Bible describes it as pitch black; absolute total darkness (Matthew 22:13) excruciatingly hot where the flames burn your flesh but your flesh is not consumed. Worms eat away at your flesh but, just like the flames, they do not consume your flesh either (Mark 9:43-44). Nor do they die. You never die. You experience an absolute all-consuming thirst that cannot be quenched (Luke 16:22-24). You’ll hear the screams of agony from other lost souls who are there with you but you won’t be able to see them.

Hell is described in the Bible as a place of outer darkness where the light and love of God does not touch you (2 Thessalonians 1:9). There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth: eternal massive regret. Torment in a narrow, confined, imprisoned place where you will experience a powerful, fearful pain. And this will go on, day in and day out, forever and ever. That means that there is no end.

That is extremely bad news. But now, I have THE Good News! As a matter of fact, it is GREAT news. You don’t have to go there! God does not want you to go there! 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance.” God said in Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies…”

Why would anyone want to go to hell for all eternity? Is it pride? God, HATES pride. Is it an unwillingness to give up the things of this world: drunkenness, debauchery, accumulating the things of this world? In Mark 8:36 God said: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

There IS more to life than having the perfect house, a huge bank account, having the best car money can buy, getting drunk every day, committing moral perversion, neglecting your everlasting soul. True peace can only come with a genuine relationship with God, through His son, Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Scripture tells us, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 2:9, God said: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Our ONLY purpose in this life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him FOREVER.

Be a part of that. Turn to Christ. Don’t put off your decision. You never know when your number is up. Once you die, it is too late. When you die, you WILL stand before Jesus. And He will either be your Savior or your Judge. In Philippians 2:10-11 God said, “That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow…and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Accept Jesus today – pray this prayer and MEAN IT!

Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.

I believe in my heart that you, Heavenly Father, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my God, my Savior, and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In John 3:16, God said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO man comes to the Father except through Me.”

In Ephesians 2:8-9, God also said “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Say it. Mean it. And I’ll be seeing you in heaven!

God Bless!