After Death ... What?

Good News – October 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

After Death ... What?

A university student asked, “Professor, is there life after death?”

“That is something only God knows for sure. All we can do is lead a good life and hope for the best,” the professor responded.

Was the professor right? Is it possible to know what comes after death?

What Will Happen?
The Bible reveals that there is life after death: “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27 NKJV). Death is not the end. It is not annihilation, extinction or soul-sleep. The Bible says that “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” either to “the resurrection of life” or to “the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn. 5:28-29).

What is the resurrection of condemnation? In Revelation 20:11-15 we learn that the dead come forth from their graves, stand before the great white throne and are judged according to their works. A person whose name is not written in the Book of Life is cast into the lake of fire. This is called the second death – further proof that there is life after the first death.

The Bible also reveals that only those who believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior can pass from death to life: “Most assuredly, I say to you, He who hears My word and believes ... has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (Jn. 5:24).

What Must You Do?
Leading a good life and hoping for the best is not God’s way of salvation – not His way of getting your name into the Book of Life. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3).

Your attitude toward Christ here and now decides what your future will be. If you repent and take Him by faith as your personal Savior, you will have eternal life. You can be sure of it! But if you turn your back on Him, you will be cast into the lake of fire after you die. Who said so? God said so. It cannot come out any other way. Merely hoping for the best will not make it happen.

When Must You Do It?
As smart as the professor may have been about this world, he was ignorant about what happens after death – about eternity. There is a future for you after death. What that future will be depends on what you do with the Savior now, today, before it is too late!

The Bible tells you this most important truth about your future: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

If you believe this and repent of your sins, your future will be secure in Christ. If you do not, you are no better off than the professor. Which will it be? We can tell you more.

This article is available as a gospel tract from Grace & Truth