WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I DIE? September 24, 2000

1) IF WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE DOWNSIDE, HERE IS WHAT WE SEE.

DEATH IS INEVITABLE. EVERYBODY HAS TO FACE IT." WE MUST ALL DIE—WISE AND FOOLISH ALIKE." NOBODY CHEATS IT, NO BODY ESCAPES. TWO THINGS ARE CERTAIN: DEATH AND _____. WE LAUGH AT THE TAXES PART BUT WE ACCEPT THE DEATH PART BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. SOONER OR LATER. IT IS CERTAIN. WE GET OLDER AND WE DIE.

DEATH IS JUST PHYSICAL. "MAN’S FATE IS LIKE THAT OF THE ANIMALS: THE SAME FATE AWAITS THEM BOTH. AS ONE DIES SO DOES THE OTHER."WHEN SOLOMON LOOKED AT DEATH FROM THE DOWNSIDE , HE LOOKED AT MAN AND AT ANIMALS—HE WATCHED THEM BOTH DIE—THEY STOPPED BREATHING THERE HEARTS STOPPED BEATING—THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. HE SAID, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE IS GONE AND ONE GOES TO HEAVEN. JUST AT LOOKING AT DEATH FROM THIS SIDE. YOU CAN’T!

DEATH IS UNSEARCHABLE. "THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER WE DIE?" (ECC.?)

        IT IS A MYSTERY THAT WE WILL NEVER FIGURE OUT IN THIS WORLD, IF WE JUST LOOK AT IT FROM THIS SIDE. (DOWNSIDE)

DEATH IS AN END. "THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING..THEIR LOVES, THEIR HATES, THEIR PASSIONS (ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO THEM ON EARTH) ALL DIE WITH THEM." (ECC.?) WE LOOK AT LIFE FROM THIS EARTHY EXISTENCE STANDPOINT (THAT EVERYTHING HAS A BEGINNING AND EVERYTHING HAS AN ENDING)

WHEN WE LOOK AT DEATH FROM THIS VIEWPOINT, WE BECOME DISCOURAGED. NO WONDER SOLOMON SAID IN 8:15 "EAT , DRINK AND BE GLAD …"

2) BUT THERE IS A SECOND WAY TO LOOK AT DEATH, FROM THE INSIDE. (PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE).

YOU SEE DEATH OUT THERE AND YOU START TO THINK ABOUT IT. THERE IS SOMETHING IN ALL OF US THAT SAYS THAT THERE HAS GOT TO BE MORE TO IT THAN THAT? EVERY HUMAN CULTURE HAS DONE THIS FROM THE EGYPTIANS WHO BUILT THE PYRAMIDS TO THE AMERICA INDIANS WHO TALK ABOUT THE "HAPPY HUNTING GROUND." THEY DESCRIBE IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING BEYOND LIFE HERE! THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE!

"HE HAS SET ETERNITY IN THE HEARTS OF MEN; YET THEY CANNOT PHANTOM WHAT GOD HAS DONE FROM THE BEGINNING TO END." (ECC. 3:11,NIV) GOD HAS PUT ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE—SOMETHING MORE!!

BUT THIS LEAVES US WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS. WE HAVE THIS FEELING WITHIN OURSELVES THAT THE PHYSIC HOT LINE CAN’T ANSWER. IT IS MORE THAN WISHFUL THINKING OR A HUNCH IT IS NOT A HOPE BECAUSE OF THIS, WE’RE CONFUSED. WHAT IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

3) LOOKING AT DEATH FROM THE UPSIDE

YOU CAN LOOK AT DEATH FROM THESE TWO WAYS—LIVE WITH DESPAIR AND LIVE WITH CONFUSION. BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT DEATH FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW—FROM THE UPSIDE. FROM GOD’S SIDE. YOU CAN LOOK AT DEATH FROM MERELY HUMAN OBSERVATION OR YOU CAN LOOK AT IT FROM GOD’S REVELATION. HE TOLD US SOME THINGS ABOUT DEATH.

JESUS CHRIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE BORN OF WOMAN IS MORE IMMINENTLY QUALIFIED TO TALK TO US ABOUT DEATH. HE DIED AND HE CAME BACK FROM DEATH TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE, NOT LOOKING AT IT FROM THIS SIDE, BUT BY LOOKING AT DEATH FROM GOD’S SIDE AND WHAT HE HAS SHOWN US ABOUT IT.

THROUGH MOST OF THIS BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES, SOLOMON WAS ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?" BUT THE QUESTION JESUS ANSWERED FOR US IS "WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WE DIE?" WHAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE IN ETERNITY? HE OPENS THE DOOR AND REVEALS IT TO US: HE LET’S US KNOW THE UPSIDE, WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN US.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I DIE?

IS DEATH JUST AN END AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT AFTER THAT? NOT AT ALL! WE IMMEDIATELY SUFFER OR ENJOY THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT WE’VE CHOSEN HERE ON EARTH –FOR ETERNITY.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION SAY THERE IS A THEORY: IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN. AND KEEP TRYING AGAIN UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT. THE BIBLE SAYS,"IT IS GIVEN TO MAN ONCE TO DIE AND AFTER THAT THE JUDGMENT." FOR THE CHOICES WE’VE MADE ON THIS EARTH. INSTEAD OF "AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED" THE TRUTH IS THAT YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION IN LIFE. OUR LIFE HERE ON THIS EARTH—THE IMPRESSION WE MAKE—IS HOW GOOD WE ARE OR HOW GREAT WE LOOK, BUT WE MAKE THE IMPRESSION BY THE CHOICE WE MAKE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.

EITHER WE SUFFER SEPARATION IN HELL, OR WE ENJOY CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN.

THAT IS THE GREATEST GOOD NEWS EVER! THAT IS ALSO THE GREATEST BAD NEWS EVER. A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS THAT MORE PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE IN A REAL HEAVEN AND A REAL HELL THAN EVER BEFORE. MORE TODAY THAN BACK IN THE CONSERVATIVE 50’S. WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT , IT’S REAL. WE WILL EITHER SUFFER SEPARATION OR ENJOY CELEBRATION.

TURN IN YOUR NEW TESTAMENTS TO PAGE 192 IN THE PAPERBACK BIBLES SET BEFORE YOU. PAGE 192, THAT 2^ND THESSALONIANS 1:8-9. "HE WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD AND DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. THEY WILL BE PUNISHED WITH EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION AND SHUT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND FROM THE MAJESTY OF HIS POWER.." THAT IS AS PLAIN AS BLACK PRINT ON WHITE PAPER!

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW GOD , WHY SHOULD YOU BE SURPRISED THAT YOU ARE NOT INVITED INTO HIS HOUSE TO LIVE? IF I HAD A HOUSE, AND I LOVED SOMEONE AND THEY ARE RELATIVES. THEY ARE INVITED IN. THEY CAN STAY. THEY CAN HAVE A PLACE AT MY TABLE AND A PLACE TO LAY THERE HEAD AT NIGHT.

BUT IF THEY DO NOT KNOW ME, AND HAVE REJECTED MY INVITATION . THEY ARE SHUT OUT FROM MY PRESENCE.

HELL IS A REAL PLACE SAID JESUS! JESUS CHRIST BELIEVED IN HELL. TWELVE OF THE TWENTY DIRECT REFERENCES TO HELL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CAME FROM JESUS’S LIPS. HE TALKED MORE ABOUT HELL THAN ANYBODY ELSE. HE TALKED ABOUT IT AS A REAL –ETERNAL PLACE. IT IS JUST AS REAL AND JUST AS ETERNAL AS HEAVEN.

PERSONALLY, I’D RATHER TALK ABOUT HEAVEN, THE GOOD NEWS. BUT I WOULDN’T BE HONEST IF I DIDN’T TELL YOU THE WHOLE PICTURE. THE CHOICE WE MAKE ON EARTH DETERMINES WHERE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY.

HELL IS A PLACE OF SUFFERING:

PHYSICAL

EMOTIONAL

RELATIONAL

SPIRITUAL

SPIRITUAL SUFFERING!

IT IS A PLACE OF FIRE. WHEN I GET BURNED, I HAVE PAIN WHETHER IT IS A 3^RD, 2^ND OR 1^ST DEGREE BURN. IT HURTS! I GENERALLY PUT ICE ON IT. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. IS THERE ICE IN HELL? (NO! ICE IS FORMED FROM WATER AND THERE IS NO WATER IN THAT PLACE—LAZARUS COULDN’T GIVE ONE DROP TO THE RICH MAN IN HELL ACCORDING TO LUKE 16:24 (PAGE-75)

PHYSICAL SUFFERING!

IT IS A PLACE OF TEARS! ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS JESUS SPOKE OF HELL AS A PLACE OF WEEPING (SADNESS) WISHING THEY HAD ANOTHER CHANCE, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE. "GNASHING OF TEETH"—I DO THIS WHEN I’M DISAPPOINTED IN A DECISION OR ANGRY ABOUT SOMETHING-SOME OF YOU THIS PAST WEEK HAVE FELT THAT WAY! HAVEN’T YOU? IN HELL YOU WANT BLAME ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE YOU WILL REALIZE THAT IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT. YOU HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELF. YOU’LL BE SAYING TO YOURSELF , "IF I HAD ONLY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION!—FOR ETERNITY.

EMOTIONAL SUFFERING

BUT ON THIS EARTH YOU GOT A ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE UP FOR IT!

IT IS A LONELY PLACE. PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT IT IS ONE BIG PARTY DON’T GET THE POINT. HELL IS A PLACE OF OUTER DARKNESS. YOU CAN BE LONELY IN A CROWD! YOU CAN’T ENJOY LIFE WITH OTHERS AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SELF PRESERVATION AND SELF IS NOT HAPPY THERE! I LOVE MY WIFE VERY MUCH! SHE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT—GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT TO ME. I ENJOY HER COMPANY, I WANT TO BE WITH HER BECAUSE SHE MAKES ME HAPPY AND WHOLE. WE ARE RELATED BY MARRIAGE. BELOVED IF YOU BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST, YOU ARE RELATED TO HIM BY MARRIAGE. WE ARE THE BRIDE AND HE IS THE HUSBAND. BUT IF YOU ARE IN HELL—YOU ARE RELATED TO THE DEVIL BECAUSE OF HIS AUTHORITY OVER YOU- YOUR OBEDIENCE TO HIM, YOUR LISTENING TO HIM AND OBEYING HIM. IT IS NOT A LOVE RELATIONSHIP—IT IS A SICK RELATIONSHIP BASED ON HIS HATRED FOR YOU. HE HAS YOUR WORST INTEREST AT HEART. IF I ENTER INTO A BARGAIN WITH YOU BUT I AM IN IT FOR ME AND ME ALONE—MY SELFISH INTEREST, MY BENEFIT, AND THERE IS NO GIVE AND TAKE BUT ONLY I GIVE IF I CAN TAKE IT BACK—THAT’S SELF DEFEATING. EX. LUKE 16:27.

RELATIONAL SUFFERING!

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE I WANT HAVE IN MY HOUSE. A WHILE BACK I LED A MAN WHO HAD BEEN TO PRISON FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR STEALING AND DRUNKENNESS. THERE WAS NO DOUBT LATER ON THAT HE WAS SAVED BECAUSE HIS LIFE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. BUT WHEN HE CAME TO CHRIST, HE DIDN’T HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, FRESH OUT OF PRISON SHUT OUT BY HIS FORMER WIFE AND KIDS—DO YOU THINK I LET HIM STAY IN MY HOUSE WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD? NO! NO! HE WAS SHUT OUT FROM MY PRESENCE BECAUSE I DIDN’T KNOW HIM AND I WASN’T ABOUT TO PUT MY WIFE AND CHILD IN DANGER BECAUSE OF HIS PAST REPUTATION! COMMON SENSE TOLD ME THAT. 2^ND THESSALONIANS 1:9 SAYS, " THEY WILL BE SHUT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD." ON THIS EARTH, AS GOOD AND BAD AS IT MIGHT BE , WE HAVE EVIL PEOPLE AND GOOD PEOPLE—IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS GOD WILL SEND THE SUN TO SHINE ON THE EVIL AND THE GOOD. WE STILL LIVE IN HIS CREATION THOUGH IT IS NOT PERFECT YET. WE STILL BENEFIT FROM HIS COMPASSION AND PRESENCE. IN HELL, THERE WILL BE NONE OF THAT. NO COMPASSION—NO CREATIVITY—NO PATIENCE!! IT WILL BE A PLACE OF SEPARATION FROM GOD!

SPIRITUAL SUFFERING!

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE? HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE? HOW CAN GOD LET THIS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE?

GOD DOESN'T’T WANT ANYBODY IN HELL. 2^ND PETER 3:9 IN LIVING BIBLE OR GN SAYS, "HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT ANYONE TO BE DESTROYED HE WANTS ALL TO TURN AWAY FROM THEIR SINS." WHEN I HEAR SOMEONE ASK, "HOW CAN A LOVING GOD SEND SOMEONE TO HELL?" I KNOW THAT NO ONE HAS EVER EXPLAINED TO THEMTHAT IF GOD HAS DONE ANY SENDING, IT IS THE SENDING OF HIS OWN SON TO THE EARTH TO DIE FOR US. HE DID THAT BECAUSE HE LOVED US AND WE WANT HAVE TO GO TO HELL. GOD DOESN’T SEND PEOPLE TO HELL.

WHY IS HELL EVEN THERE? HELL WASN'T’T MADE FOR PEOPLE. JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 25:41(PAGE 27) THAT HELL WAS CREATED FOR SATAN AND DEMONS. IT WASN’T CREATED FOR PEOPLE AND GOD DOESN’T SEND PEOPLE THERE. WHY DO PEOPLE GO THERE? THEY CHOOSE TOO. THEY DON’T MAKE A CHOICE ABOUT HEAVEN. THE CHOICE IS NOT ABOUT HOW GREAT YOU ARE OR HOW GOOD YOU LOOK OR ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH JESUS CHRIST!!!

IF I WANT TO GET CLOSER TO GOD THEN I MAKE A CHOICE TO GET TO KNOW HIM, UNDERSTAND HIM, LEARN ABOUT HIM, FOLLOW HIM. IN ETERNITY, THIS WILL BE MAGNIFIED MANY TIMES OVER. I GET TO KNOW HIM HERE BY HANGING AROUND HIS PEOPLE. YOU CAN HAVE IT YOUR WAY NOW BY CHOOSING NOT TO KNOW HIM AND HAVE IT YOUR WAY LATER ON BY MISSING HEAVEN AND LIVING IN HELL. . IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THIS. EITHER SAY TO GOD IN THIS LIFE, "GOD, YOUR WILL BE DONE." OR GOD SAYS TO ME IN ETERNITY, "YOUR WILL BE DONE." PEOPLE CHOICE TO GO THERE.

I’M GLAD THAT I HAVE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU. THIS IS ALL THERE WAS UNTIL GOD SENT HIS SON. EITHER WE ENDURE SEPARATION IN HELL OR WE ENJOY CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN. REVELATION 21:3-4 SAYS, "GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM..HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR MOURNING OR CRYING OR PAIN, FOR THE ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY." HE SITS ON THE THRONE AND SAYS, "I’M MAKING EVERYTHING NEW." HEAVEN IS A REAL, ETERNAL PLACE.

WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?

WHAT IS IT LIKE? 1ST CORINTHIANS 2:9 SAYS, (HEAVEN IS LIKE NOTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN) EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD ALL THAT GOD PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." YOU TAKE THE BEST DAY THAT YOU HAVE EVER HAD ON THIS EARTH (STOP NOW AND GET IT IN YOUR MIND) THE GREATEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON THIS EARTH, AND MULTIPLY IT BY A MILLION TIMES.. AND YOU’VE STILL NOT EVEN GOT CLOSE TO WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE. WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW GREAT IT IS GOING TO BE. THAT IS WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE!!

THE BIBLE DOES GIVE US SOME PRACTICAL PICTURES.

IT IS GOD’S CITY WHERE EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.

IT IS GOD’S THRONE WHERE HE REIGNS:; HE RULES EVERYTHING. EVERY DECISION THAT HE WANTS AND COUNTS WORKS. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT IT BEING FILLED WITH JEWELS AND WE WALK ON STREETS OF GOLD. THAT MEANS EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN IS VALUABLE—IT DRIPS WITH VALUE! IT DRIPS WITH SIGNIFICANCE! IMPORTANCE! BECAUSE GOD IS THERE!! WHAT LIGHTS UP EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN IS HIS PRESENCE! THAT’S WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TOO. THAT’S WHAT HEAVEN IS ALL ABOUT.

WHAT AM I GOING TO BE LIKE THERE? THE BIBLE SAYS YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A BODY BUT IT WILL BE A PERFECT ONE! I DON’T KNOW HOW YOUNG OR OLD IT IS GOING TO BE? WE PUT SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON YOUTH TODAY BUT GOD TALKS A LOT ABOUT MATURITY NOT NECESSARILY AGE.

WHAT WILL BE OUR LIFESTYLE? GLORY! IT WILL BE GLORIOUS, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TOO. OUR CHARACTER WILL BE HOLY. NOW HOLY IS A WORD THAT MEANS SET APART, PERFECT, DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING WE’VE EVER EXPERIENCED. BEFORE.

CHRISTIANS!! DO YOU EVER FEEL GUILTY? WHY? BECAUSE WE SIN TOO!! DON’T EVER FORGET IT. IT IS A HUMBLING THING. I ONCE WAS CALLED ON TO PREACH IN A CHURCH IN TENNESSEE. WHILE I WAS IN THE HOTEL ROOM THE NIGHT BEFORE SUNDAY, I ASKED GOD TO SAVE SOMEONE THERE IN THIS HOUSE FOR STRANGERS. THE NEXT DAY, THE MUSIC WAS WONDERFUL, MY INTRODUCTION WAS BY FAR MORE GENEROUS THAN I DESERVED. GOD SAVED A DEPUTY SHERIFF IN THAT MEETING. AND JUST AFTER HE RECEIVED CHRIST. HE ASKED IF HE COULD SPEAK. SINCE I WAS THE GUEST SPEAKER, I WAS NOT IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE BUT A RETIRED PASTOR WAS. HE SAID YES! THE MAN SAID THESE WORDS THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET BUT SIMPLY PARAPHRASE FOR YOUR BENEFIT. " I HAVEN’T BEEN IN THIS CHURCH FOR 18 YEARS. I’VE BEEN LOST ALL MY LIFE. AND SOME OF YOU HERE HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLICES IN SIN WITH ME. YOU DIDN’T POINT ME TO CHRIST BUT AWAY FROM HIM AND I BLAME YOU PARTLY FOR ALL THESE WASTED YEARS OF WANDERING AWAY FROM GOD, YOU ARE SINNERS TOO."

NOW, MANY PEOPLE CAME FORWARD TO HUG AND SHAKE HANDS WITH THAT MAN. THERE WERE MANY TEARS SHED. THERE WAS A REJOICING IN HIS SALVATION THERE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THERE WAS NOT? A HUMBLING. THERE WAS NOT A BROKENNESS OVER WHAT HE HAD SAID. AS A MATTER OF A FACT. AS I STOOD BY THE DOOR WHILE PEOPLE LEFT (BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO DO) SEVERAL PEOPLE CAME BY AND SAID, "DON’T YOU I BELIEVE IT PREACHER, WE AREN’T SINNERS HERE, WE’RE SAINTS."

THAT CONGREGATION HAD A CHANCE TO BE BROKEN BY WHAT HE SAID—THE INDICTMENT AGAINST THEM BUT THEY DIDN’T LISTEN AND WERE SO PRIDEFUL THAT THEY MADE THE NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY UNWELCOME BECAUSE THEY HAD BECAME EXECUTIVE CHRISTIANS , RUN BY A BOARD OF DEACONS NOT CARING ABOUT THE LOST THERE BUT STRUTTING THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN WHILE THE COMMUNITY WENT TO HELL.

I BELIEVE IN ONCE SAVED , ALWAYS SAVED BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN ONCE SAVED ALWAYS PERFECT. I BELIEVE IN PRESERVATION BUT SOME ARE PRESERVED ONE OF TWO WAYS—BY SUGAR—SWEET, NICE DISPOSITION AND SOME PRESERVED IN VINEGAR—WITH A SCOWL ON THEIR FACE NOT ENJOYING SALVATION BUT ENDURING IT.

WHAT ABOUT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ? WHAT ARE MY DAYS GOING TO BE LIKE? THE WORD THE BIBLE USES IS PERFECT? NO MORE DEATH OR CRYING OR PAIN OR SUCH THINGS. PERFECT. EVERY MOMENT OF IT. THAT IS WHAT WE LOOK FORWARD TOO. NOT LIKE HERE!

WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN? HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF REAL SIGNIFICANCE WORSHIP AND REIGN—WE ARE ALL KINGS AND QUEENS WITH SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ETERNITY. WE WORK—IT IS A NOT A BORING PLACE WE WORK. WE CELEBRATE. THE PARTY IN HEAVEN IS FOR ALL ETERNITY. WE FELLOWSHIP. WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND WITH PEOPLE. WE REST IN HEAVEN. AND SOMEHOW WE REST AND WORK WITH SIGNIFICANCE AT THE SAME TIME, ETERNALLY. DO WE PLAY HARPS IN HEAVEN? PROBABLY NOT. IF YOU WANT TO, YOU COULD BECAUSE IT’S HEAVEN. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TOO—YOU CAN PLAY TRUMPET IF YOU WANT!

INVITATION: (WRAP IT UP) WHAT DECIDES CELEBRATION OR SEPARATION? DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHETHER I’LL BE IN HEAVEN OR HELL? NO! IT IS NOT A MATTER OF HOW GOOD YOU ARE? IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON HOW GOOD OR BAD WE ARE. IT IS BECAUSE OF A CHOICE YOU MAKE ABOUT GOD’S ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST.

WHAT CAN I DO BEFORE I DIE ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER I DIE?

LET ME SAY THAT YOU CAN FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE ON THE UPSIDE IF YOU MAKE A DECISION NOW. TURN IN THESE NEW TESTAMENTS TO PAGE 167. PAGE 167. PAUL AS HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH HIS OWN LIFE SAID THESE WORDS. "IN OUR HEARTS, WE FELT THE SENTENCE OF DEATH. THIS HAPPENED SO THAT WE MIGHT NOT RELY ON OURSELVES , BUT ON GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD." SORROW SHARPENS YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT HE COULD NOT RELY UPON HIMSELF FOR THIS QUESTION. HE HAD TO RELY ON GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD. HE HAS THE POWER TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

HOW CAN I PREPARE TO DIE? THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO NOW THAT CAN PREPARE YOU FOR DEATH.

TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST.

INVEST IN ETERNITY.

TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE DIED SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM. NO ONE CAN CHEAT DEATH. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FACE IT. JESUS CHRIST DIDN’T CHEAT DEATH HE BEAT IT. HE FACED IT HEAD ON AND FAIR AND SQUARE AND HE BECAME THE VICTOR. NO CONTEST. AND HE WANTS TO GIVE TO YOU AND I THE SAME RESURRECTION VICTORY IN OUR LIVES SO THAT WE CAN FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE. JESUS SAID, " THERE IS A NARROW ROAD THAT LEADS TO LIFE AND I AM THE WAY. I AM THE TRUTH. I AM THE LIGHT." HE IS THE WAY TO FIND LIFE.

INVEST IN ETERNITY. IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO BE ALIVE. IF A PERSON LIVES TO BE VERY OLD LET HIM REJOICE IN EVERYDAY OF LIFE, BUT LET HIM ALSO REMEMBER THAT ETERNITY IS FAR LONGER AND THAT EVERYTHING DOWN HERE IS FUTILE IN COMPARISON." (ECCLESIASTES 11:7-8) LIFE WITH PERSPECTIVE. ENJOY EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE BUT HAVE A PERSPECTIVE ON ETERNITY THAT IT IS FAR LONGER AND ULTIMATELY IMPORTANT . YOU ARE NOT READY TO LIVE ON THIS EARTH UNTIL YOU ARE PREPARED TO DIE. YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT DEATH AFFECTS YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE. IF YOU HAVE AN PERSPECTIVE ON DEATH THAT SAYS I HAVE A HOPE FOR ETERNITY, THEN YOU CAN LIVE EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE WITH ENJOYMENT.

DON’T WAIT TO LIVE. DON’T WAIT TO DIE. LIVE WITH JOY IN YOUR HEART TODAY.

LORD, AS WE ALL PRAY TOGETHER, THE TRUTH IS THAT WE WERE ALL HEADED FOR SUFFERING, SEPARATION AND HELL. BUT YOU DECIDED THAT YOU WOULDN’T LET IT HAPPEN. YOU SENT YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, TO GIVE US AN OPTION. AND IT IS THE GREATEST OPTION THAT WAS EVER GIVEN. YOUR SON DIED TO GIVE US THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. AND YOU DID THAT BECAUSE YOU LOVED US. YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO. WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU. NOW LORD WORK IN YOUR MIGHTY POWER TO SAVE. WE PRAY AMEN.