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QUESTIONS ABOUT MY FINAL DESTINATION Often times we have questions about death and what happens at that moment when we take our last breath. Below are a few answers to questions you may have. All this information was taken from "One Minute After You Die", written by Erwin W. Lutzer. Question: What about the "near-death experiences" we've heard so much about? Recently, Betty Eadie wrote a book called "Embraced by the Light"(1), which gives a fantastic account of her visit to the "other side". She claims to have seen Christ and thus even dedicated her book to him: "To the Light, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom I owe all that I have. He is the 'staff' that I lean on; without Him I would fail." Yet it becomes clear that the Christ she tells us about is not the Jesus of the New Testament. Eadie's Jesus is a benevolent being of light that surrounded her in such a way that she could not tell where her "light" stopped and his began. Jesus, she tells us, is separate from the Father and would do nothing to offend her. There was no reason to regret past deeds, for we as humans are not sinful creatures; indeed, human "spirit beings" assisted the heavenly Father at creation. Thankfully, the world is not filled with tragedy as we suppose, and in the presence of Christ, Eadie concluded, "I knew that I was worthy to embrace Him."(2) In contrast, there is other research indicating that many others have had dark and foreboding experiences. In "The Edge of Death, by Philip J. Swilhart, (3) and "Beyond Death's Door", by Maurice Rawlings, (4) there are accounts of those who tell terrifying stories of the life beyond. Some have seen a lake of fire or abysmal darkness, along with tormented persons -- all of whom are awaiting judgment. These reports, the authors contend, are more accurate because they were gained through interviews almost immediately following near-death and resuscitation. These dark experiences, the writers say, are often lost to the memory after a short period of time. We will do much better if we trust someone who was actually dead, not someone who was just near death. Christ is the only One who is qualified to tell us what we can expect on the other side. He was dead -- so dead that His body became cold and was put into a tomb. Three days later He was raised from the dead with a glorified body. Here is someone whose opinion can be trusted. To John this risen Christ said, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:17-18). Reliable information does not come to us by trying to peer behind the partially open curtain. God alone knows what really lies on the other side of the veil. And that is why we can do no better than study what the Bible has to say about the Great Beyond. 1. Betty J. Eadie and Curtis Taylor, "Embraced
by the Light" (Placerville, Calif.; Gold Leaf, 1992). Question: What about the death of an infant? Do babies go to heaven upon their death? Contrary to popular opinion, children will not be in heaven because they are innocent. Paul taught clearly that children are born under condemnation of Adam's sin (Romans 5:12). Indeed, it is because they are born sinners that they experience death. Also, we should not make a distinction between children who are baptized and those who are not, as if such a ritual can make one a child of God. The idea of infant baptism arose in North Afric years after the New Testament was written. Even if it can be justified theologically as a sign of the covenant (A debatable proposition), there is no evidence whatever that it can give to children the gift of eternal life. If children are saved (and the author of this book believes they shall be), it can only be because God credits their sin to Christ; and because they are too young to believe, the requirement of personal faith is waived. We do not know at what age they are held personally accountable. It is impossible to suggest an age, since that may vary, depending on the child's capacity and mental development. There are strong indications that children who die are with the Lord. (2 Samuel 12:23). Christ saw children as being in close proximity to God and the kingdom of heaven. "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 18:10). Children are close to the heart of God. Question: Will a baby be a baby in heaven? James Vernon McGee has made the interesting suggestion that God will resurrect the infants as they are and that the mothers' arms that have ached for them will have the opportunity of holding their little ones. The father who never had the opportunity of holding that little hand will be given that privilege. Thus, the children will grow up with their parents. Whether that will be the case, we do not know. But of this we can be confident: A child in heaven will be complete. Either the child will look as he would have if he were full grown, or else his mental and physical capacities will be enhanced to give him full status among the redeemed. Heaven is not a place for second-class citizens; all handicaps are removed. Heaven is a place of perfection! The death of an infant, however, causes all of us to struggle with the will and purpose of God. It seems strange that God would grant the gift of life and then cause it to be snuffed out before it could blossom into a stage of usefulness. But we can be sure that there is a purpose in such a life, even if it is not immediately discernible. James Vernon McGee again states that when a shepherd seeks to lead his sheep to better grass up the winding, thorny mountain paths, he often finds that the sheep will not follow him. They fear the unknown ridges and the sharp rocks. The shepherd will then reach into the flock and take a little lamb on one arm and another on his other arm. Then he starts up the precipitous pathway. Soon the two mother sheep begin to follow, and afterward the entire flock. Thus they ascend the tortuous path to greener pastures. Thus it is with our Good Shepherd. He sometimes has to reach into the flock and take a little lamb unto Himself and uses that experience to lead His people, to lift them to new heights of commitment as they follow the little lamb all the way home. Question: What is hell? Usually when we think of hell, we think of fire, since Christ spoke of the "fire of hell." In Revelation We read of "the lake of fire and brimstone." There is no reason the torment of hell could not include physical fire, since the bodies of those present will have been recreated and made indestructible. Unlike our present bodies, those of the resurrected dead will not burn up or be extinguished. Literal fire is a possibility. However, there is another kind of fire that will be in hell - a fire that may be worse than literal fire. That is the fire of unfulfilled passion, of desires that will never satisfied. Perpetually burning lusts never subside, and the tortured conscience burns but is never satisfied or appeased. There will be increased desire with decreased satisfaction. Hell, then, is the raw soul joined to an indestructible body, exposed to its own sin for eternity. Hell is the place of unquenchable, raging guilt, without pain-killers or sedation. Be assured of this: Neither the devil nor his angels will torment people in hell. Satan and his demons will be among the tormented; they will not be tormentors (Revelation 20:10). Hell is also a place ot total abandonment. C.S. Lewis believed there would be no communication in hell because it was a place of solitude. Jonathan Edwards believed that if unbelievers are next to one another they will only add to each other's agony through expressions of hatred, accusations, and curses. No comfort will be derived from the presence of others. Consumed with the torment of raging, unforgiven sin, those in hell will never find comfort again. Hell is a place of eternity. How long is eternity? Visualize a bird coming to earth every million years and taking one grain of sand to a distant planet. At that rate it would take thousands of billions of years before the bird had carried away a single handful of sand. This does not even begin to describe the length of eternity! The most sobering thought that could ever cross our minds is the fact that the rich man who was cast into hell because of his rerjection of Christ has not yet received the drop of water for which he so desperately longed. Today, as you read these words, he is still there awaiting the final judgment of the lake of fire. Hell is a place of easy access, but has no exit. All you have to do to get there is reject Christ, the only one who can save us. If reading this has been frightening, the good news is that we have an escape from hell through the Lord Jesus Christ. We read that "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36). Question: What about suicide? Those who choose suicide (for whatever reason) should remember that death is not the end, but a doorway into an eternal existence. Sad to say, some who find the pain of dying intolerable will awaken in a realm that is even more terrible than earthly suffering could ever be. We should welcome death from the hand of God, but not force the hand that brings it. Yes, Christians - genuine Christians - sometimes do commit suicide. I believe that such are in heaven by the only route by which any one of us shall make it - the grace of God. Of course those who end their own lives die as failures; their last act was murder (their own). And yet because they have come under the shelter of God's protection through Christ, they will be escorted into the heavenly gates. Suicide is never an honorable way out of a difficulty. Whatever our need is,Christ has given us the resources to cope with the difficulties of life. That might mean making some tough choices, but there is "a way of escape." It is presumptuous to commit suicide on the premise that all will be well on the other side. For one thing, many people who say they are Christions aren't. Thus for them suicide is a doorway to eternal misery. Also, we forget that we are accountable to Christ for the way we lived (and died) on earth. Though Christ will not parade our sins before us, our life will be carefully reviewed. Question: How can I be sure I'm going to heaven and not to hell? When Christ died on the cross, He made a sacrifice for sinners, which God accepted. Though Christ was perfect in every way and completely without sin, God made Him legally guilty of all of our sins. In turn, we receive His righteousness. "He made Him who knew no sin (Christ) to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21) Maybe you think you have sinned too much to receive the gift of assurance of an eternity in heaven. Please understand - God is able to save great sinners - criminals, in fact. The amount of our sin is not a barrier; it is our unbelief that cuts us off from God's mercy and pardon. When we receive Christ's righteousness, God gives us a new nature; He changes us from the inside out. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Obviously, we cannot cause ourselves to be born again. That is something God must do for us. How do we receive this gift of righteousness and a new nature within? All you need to do is admit your helplessness, acknowledge that you are dependent on God's mercy. Then you must simply trust Christ and the fact that He bore all your sins -- you must believe in Him as the One who did all that you will ever need in order to stand in God's holy presence. Below is a prayer you can pray, a prayer that expresses your desire to transfer your trust to Christ alone for your eternal salvation. This prayer can be the link that connects you to God. If you pray it in faith, God will receive you. Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way into heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that ever will be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I Thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer.....in Jesus' Name Amen. In John 11:25 Christ tells us, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die". In Hebrews 2:14-15 we read, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives". Revelation 14:13 states, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."' Yes,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labor, for their deeds follow with them'". Friend, if you have prayed this prayer today, we'd like to hear from you. Please phone us at 814-943-8162, or e-mail us at: fbcalt@ilovejesus.net
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