The most important question of all time is, “Where will you spend eternity?” People have come up with various answers to that question, and most are wrong. “I’m a good person, so I’ll go to Heaven.” Wrong. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Nobody can be “good enough” to earn the right to abide in Heaven. Heaven is waiting only for people who have accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

People usually judge “good” people and “bad” people based on human standards, and we usually excuse our own sins. Eternity is judged by God’s standards. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10).

We are only made righteous by the blood of Jesus. By God’s standards, nobody is “good enough,” and that’s why Jesus had to shed His blood for us. Jesus was God incarnate, and only His blood was pure enough to be the once for all sacrifice to take sin away. Gratitude for what He did should make you do good works in His name, but those good works won’t bring salvation. “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Only God’s blood, untainted by sin, can bring salvation. Nobody can work hard enough nor do enough good things to earn salvation. Another goofy idea is people are reincarnated. Wrong again. We live this life, make our choices, then upon death, we either go directly to be with the Lord or we wait for the final judgment, depending upon whether or not you accepted Christ’s shed blood for salvation. You don’t recycle through life, nor do you become an angel upon death, which is another erroneous human idea. Angels were created by God prior to when He laid the foundations of the world.

Other questions you should seek answers for are, is there an afterlife? Is Hell real? Is Heaven real? The answer to those questions is yes. The Old Testament uses the word “Sheol,” which means “the abode of the dead.” It was the place where souls went after death. It’s translated variously as “grave,” “hell,” and “pit.”

The first place the word is used is in Genesis when Jacob’s sons lied and told him that Joseph had been killed, when in fact they sold him to a group of Midianites, who sold him to Potiphar in Egypt. Jacob’s grief was deep. “And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him” (Genesis 37:35).

Jacob said “grave,” but he wasn’t talking about where his body would be placed upon death. The word “grave” is Sheol, the abode of the dead where souls would rest while awaiting their final destination… peace in Heaven or the flames of Hell-fire.

Jesus told a story that is recorded in the New Testament and gives us a peek into life after death prior to the cross. In it, He tells of a place of comfort and a place of flames and torment. The story is found in Luke chapter 16. There was a poor man named Lazarus. He didn’t have money for food and was in poor health. A rich man often walked past Lazarus with no concern about his condition. The inevitable happened, and both died. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: 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 bosom” (Luke 16:22-23).

There’s a lot to learn from this verse. The Greek word translated “hell” is “Hades” and is the Greek equivalent of Sheol. The abode of the dead had two sides. One side was where those who honored God went. It was a place of comfort often called Abraham’s Bosom. The other side wasn’t at all comforting and was called “torments.” In both places, those who awaited their final destination could feel comfort or pain. The rich man was in torments feeling pain and suffering. “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 16:24).

The rich man should have made better choices while living on this side of eternity. Abraham explained that fact to him. “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented” (Luke 16:25). Many times, people interpret this story to prove it’s better to suffer in this life than it is to be rich. It’s actually telling us that what we do with what we have is what matters. We hear about many very wealthy people who run the internet and computer companies but aren’t using their wealth to honor God. If we are given much but are selfish with it, we have put our wealth on the throne rather than Jesus.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The money isn’t evil, but the love of it causes the problem. The rich man loved his wealth more than he loved God.

There was a gulf between torments and Abraham’s Bosom that could not be crossed. They could see each other but not pass from one side to the other. We also learn that those who have gone on remember those of us who still have a choice of where to spend eternity. “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: for I have five brethren; that may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28). Although the rich man remembered his family, he couldn’t contact them, nor could anyone be sent to them from the other side.

If you think you’ve had a message from your Uncle Charlie or Grandma, you haven’t. God warns against trying to contact the dead. We have Scripture to guide us to eternity and the Holy Spirit to show us the paths of righteousness of God.

After the cross, all was changed. Those who inhabited Abraham’s Bosom were led to their reward by Jesus. And today, if we have accepted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, death is not to be feared. Christ conquered death, and the grave has no hold upon us. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).

Jesus left an empty tomb; His death was a victory, and we who have placed our faith in Him have nothing to fear from death. “Therefore we are always confident knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6).

Today, you have the choice of where you will spend eternity… with Jesus or in the lake of fire. Christians’ works will be judged at the Bema Seat of Christ. Our sins are forgiven, so it won’t be a judgment of Heaven or Hell, but our actions will be judged. Our rewards will be crowns that we will be able to return to Jesus in humble gratitude for the price He paid for our redemption. Those who reject Christ’s free gift of salvation will spend eternity in the burning lake of fire. The beast and the false prophet will join the devil in that eternal lake of fire, and those who will take the Mark of the Beast, thus choosing to reject Jesus while following evil. It is an eternal punishment. Finally, all who remain in the abode of the dead will join them.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14-15).

God doesn’t send anyone to Hell, but we make our own choice here in this life. Jesus gave His life to give humans the only way to avoid Hell-fire and damnation. If we place our faith in Him, we will spend eternity in Heaven.

I’ve chosen eternity with Him in Heaven; have you? The choice has to be made now. There is no such thing as purgatory… no second chances, and you can’t work your way out of Hell. If you don’t respond to the Gospel message before death, then you’ve made your own eternal choice. Today you need to admit you’re a sinner, believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for your redemption, and accept His gift of salvation. “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

The Apostle Paul suffered many things while on this earth, but he kept his eyes on Jesus and knew that, by faith, when he died, he would be with the Lord. Today, Paul is waiting in Heaven to receive his crowns for a life lived for Christ. I have many loved ones who are there, too. What a glorious day it will be when we are all gathered around Jesus, praising Him for our salvation. You will only be there if you’ve believed the Gospel truth prior to death. There is no other path to Heaven than through faith in Jesus. “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). Trust Him today.

God doesn’t send us to Hell… we choose to go there when we reject Christ. Don’t put off your decision. Young people die as well as older people. It’s been said that God has no grandchildren and we must each make our own choice. If you were raised in a Christian household, you might understand your need for Jesus more than someone raised with secular influences, but you must make your own decision.

Don’t think that if you were baptized as an infant that you are covered. That decision wasn’t your own. Although important, baptism doesn’t bring salvation. Only your own personal faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will take your sin away. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). An infant cannot believe in his or her heart nor confess with his or her mouth.

Ask yourself, “If I die tomorrow, where will I spend eternity?” It’s an important question, and the answer you give is the most important one you need to have the right answer to. If you would like more information, talk to a Christian near you or send an email. Your salvation and eternity matter.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying” (Romans 13:12-13).

We take many things for granted that are, in reality, blessings from God. Take light, for instance. We assume that the sun will come up every morning and warm the earth, help plants grow, and allow us to see any obstacles that might trip us. It will set in the evening, and darkness will come over the earth, and with it, coolness and the lesser light of the moon and the stars. The moon is only a reflection of the sun’s light. If you’re blessed to live where the artificial lights of the world don’t cover them, you can see millions of stars that glitter in the darkness. What a beautiful sight to see!

Darkness does have a certain kind of beauty unless you’re referring to the darkness of Satan. Darkness is used to describe the evil works of the devil, but the glorious works of God are described as light. The Apostle John wrote much about Jesus being the light of the world. After stating that Jesus is the Creator of all things, John writes, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4-5).

People who choose to follow the darkness of Satan cannot understand the Light of God.

It’s hard to wrap our minds around it, but light was the first thing Jesus spoke into existence, even before He created the sun, moon, or stars. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2). God created the heaven and earth, but all was dark until God spoke. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).

The Hebrew word here is “owr,” which is the light itself, not the thing from which it’s emitted. There had to be light before anything could survive.

“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:4-5).

It’s important to understand Genesis in order to understand that there was no big bang and no evolutionary cosmic goo that somehow became life in its many forms.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that God spoke the sun and moon into being.

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day” (Genesis 1:14-19).

On this fourth day, God created the sun, moon, and stars. Light had already been spoken into being, but now it was contained and set on a rotation of rising and setting.

The world is a very dark place without light. Satan is the ruler of the evil done in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the World, but Satan is the god of this world. Those who follow Satan cannot understand light.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

The word for darkness is the Greek word “skotos,” which metaphorically means “of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell.” It’s much better to embrace the light of Jesus and not face the misery that results from sin that makes life miserable. The disease sin brings is not worth stumbling around in darkness. I’ve never been in jail, but people I know who have spent time there don’t want to go back. The sin wasn’t worth the price paid. Yet, the darkness has a stronghold upon the sinner; the darkness engulfs them.

“The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness” (Luke 11:34-35). Various translations render the word “single” as “good,” “healthy,” and “clear.” Darkness will always cause you to stumble and fall.

Light extinguishes the darkness; even a spark in the darkness shines bright. Remember, Jesus is the Light of the world, and His light shines through those of us who call ourselves Christians.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Following Jesus is following the light. He will light your pathway. Follow His light and flee from the darkness of sin.

Paul was a hateful man who was going to Damascus to arrest people who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ. His life was changed dramatically when he saw the light of Jesus. “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven” (Acts 9:3).

The darkness in which Paul lived was shattered by the light of God. Jesus gave Paul a mission. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18).

Before Paul could fulfill this directive from Jesus, he had to let go of the darkness. Paul did let go of his dark sin and faithfully spread the light of the Gospel to a dark world, and today we benefit from his faithfulness. We need to follow His example in spreading the Light of God to a dark world.

When a person encounters Jesus, it may not be quite as dramatic as Paul’s encounter, but it is just as important, and it should be just as life-changing. We need to stop living in the darkness of sin and death. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).

Study Scripture, which is God’s word, and apply it to your life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). How can you follow the light if you don’t turn it on? The Holy Spirit lives in each and every Christian. He is our guide in following God’s instructions, but we can hinder him. “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Don’t let the Light of God dim in your life. Stand firm on His word every day. It may not be easy to walk in the Light of the World, but it makes life easier than stumbling in the darkness.

We all slip into the darkness at times. Sometimes we move away from the Light on purpose, but you can rest assured that there is always forgiveness for the truly repentant person.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

The word “propitiation” is from the Greek word “hilasmos,” which means “appeasing.” So, Jesus is the appeasement for our sins. Thank You, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul, who was highly educated in his Jewish faith, understood that God created everything. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

This agrees with Genesis chapter 1 as well as with the Gospel of John chapter 1. Jesus Christ is the Creator of all that is, and He called light into existence. He was the light before the sun, moon, and stars. He will be the Light throughout eternity, and He shines through us today. Let His light shine through your life. Turn away from darkness and walk in His light daily.

In Romans, chapter 1, Paul reveals the consequence of the sin of rejecting God as the Creator, and we see that happening in the nations today as the darkness of sin is accepted as the standard of living. We are swiftly moving to the end of time. It’s hard to imagine a world where darkness rules even more than it does today. We can see the darkness of sin getting blacker, but today we still have the Light of the world in us.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth” (John 12:35).

As Christians we need to walk in the light without wavering. We cannot waver in our walk but must stay in God’s Light. Parents must teach children to follow the Light instead of the darkness of the world. It’s important to teach our children, but it’s also important for parents to walk in the Light as examples to the children. If we quench the Light of God in us, we leave the world in the dark. The darkness of sin is growing because Christians aren’t following the Light and are allowing Satan’s dark lies to be taught to children in schools and allowing dark, satanic thoughts to permeate our children’s thinking through music, movies, and television. Satan’s dark evil is strong in the world of entertainment.

Moses led the Israelites from captivity in Egypt and for 40 years wandering in the wilderness. When Moses died, Joshua led the Israelites in the battle for the land that God promised to Abraham. Satanic evil was thriving there, and the battle was tough, but Joshua was a strong leader who followed God instead of the satanic gods of the Egyptians and the pagan inhabitants of the Promised Land.

Joshua made his position clear. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but a for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Fathers, you need to take a stand and lead your family in the Light of God. Mothers, if the father in the household is weak and chooses darkness, you take a stand. As Christian parents, be sure you walk in the same Light in which you want your children to walk. Don’t let the light that shines in you be darkness.

When we accept Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for salvation, our life needs to change from walking in darkness to walking in the Light. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

Stop serving darkness. Like Joshua challenged the Israelites, choose this day whom ye will serve… demonic gods who fill you with darkness, or Jesus Christ who is the Light of the world. Christians are a new creation in Christ. All sin is forgiven when you surrender to Christ, so stop stumbling in the dark and come to the Light of the world and allow His light to outshine the darkness of Satan. Walk in His light.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.