Hello God(?) Everyone wants to know, what happens when we die? What happens to us common mortals? This has been a question for eons but something few young people will spend much time on. I think that maybe we have to get to a place where we see our own mortality before we ask ‘what happens when we die?’ Always a fair question in my mind. Certain life events might bring a younger person to ponder this question but it’s usually going to be something us older adults debate. The potential answers can be quite cloudy to say the least but maybe that’s how God wants it, to leave us guessing on most details. However, there are some things that were made clear in scripture and if we try and connect the dots it gets kind of interesting, it was for me anyway and my hope is that after you give this one a read you might feel the same way?
Dear God, now that you’ve revealed yourself and your plans in many forms/ways [absent all the nuances and details that a man like me would want], I’m sure I speak for most when I say it’s still a big puzzle as to what our final destiny looks like. I intend to dive into this topic from the perspective of someone who has not been trained in Theology. With all that, I will still make an attempt to share as I piece together some things revealed in scripture [an attempt to connect the dots per se] from gospel truths because after all they are revelations from God, and not common men.
Saved by the Grace of God!
Well not all of us. I want to begin with one of the most important concepts in Christian doctrine, that of “Salvation”. Who among us will be granted eternity and who will not? This doctrine has long been the subject of debate as God makes that call, not us. The sovereignty of God speaks to the very core of this subject. The sacrifices made through his only Son, Jesus Christ, paid for our own sins, and the sins of mankind. That created a line in the sand and God drew the line, those that believe and accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior will receive the gift of everlasting life. Thus, for believers in Jesus Christ the concept of salvation sounds straightforward, [purely saved by the grace of God – a gift], and it seems like there is nothing further required to accept this gift. However, I want to point out one genius factor involved in unwrapping God’s directive here – salvation cannot be paid for, or earned by our good deeds or bought with our generous donations. One could ask “is this fair?” And the answer is “yes”. You see God is completely impartial when it comes to the wealthy and the poor among us, instead he places all of mankind on equal footing in regards to material matters. Within this scenario not one of us obtains advantage simply by our stature in this world [as it should be]. Which could speak to God’s lack of regard for this broken world, but that’s steering us away in a different direction. Again, the only test being do you recognize his only Son, Jesus Christ, as the “Messiah” who was prophesied to come as early as in the days of the Old Testament? Have you declared Jesus Christ as your lord and savior?
For further reading on Salvation, here are two biblical references:
Ephesians 2:8-9
John 3:16
An Unfinished Business
Bible scripture makes it clear from several passages [more than I can include here] that we all one day will face judgement from God. This pertains to both believers and non-believers in an almighty God. In the meantime, we are not to act as judge and jury ourselves, referencing passages such as, “judge not, lest ye be judged” from Matthew 7:1. There’s a reason for this as God makes it clear that he remains sovereign over the judging [of the worthiness] of each individual. This makes total sense to me from the standpoint of who could truly judge us but the one who possesses all the information(?), the one who is indeed, omniscient. I use the term “reconciliation” to describe this process of judging because after reading several passages [on the subject] it appears to me to be more of a setting straight of the record of our lives, both the good and the bad, and even the not so good and the not so bad. Therefore, it looks as if we’re all in for a full reconciliation of our lives from the only one qualified to truly judge each of us. The term “reconciliation” is mostly used in the bible to convey that God reconciled his relationship with mankind through the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. However, I’m using the term more loosely here to convey a settling of scores for each of us based on how we conducted our lives here on earth.
If all things are made right [or justified] through God then and only then has a true reconciliation occurred. After all, it appears to me that our individual debts must be repaid so there you have my opinion. When thinking back on our life most of us will have regrets or have done things we are ashamed of [either doing or saying]. In addition to that we will also have achievements as well, things we are most proud of. Over the course of our lifetimes we have no doubt knowingly [and sometimes even unknowingly] hurt others, or maybe acted with all out cruelty toward some thing or someone. I count these sorts of things as individual debts to be repaid. If you believe scripture then you also will be inclined to believe that while God forgives he also sets things straight for everyone – conducting a reconciliation if you will, to even the score. Our creator must be the one to right the ship because God is the only – the only one with all the information involving our actions, our motives, along with a view into our hearts. This subject points to one of my favorite passages in the New Testament, Romans 8:28, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
“Meaning believers can trust God orchestrates even difficult circumstances for a greater, positive outcome, ultimately aligning with His divine plan for them. It’s a message of hope and God’s sovereignty, reassuring followers that He’s working behind the scenes for their ultimate benefit, not just in sweet moments but through all life’s chapters”. Take a minute to unwrap all that in your mind, think about times when you took an incredible risk, a risk that could have turned out disastrous but didn’t, or times when you were in a rut only to look back and realize that your life turned around completely through no recognizable action of your own. How does all this happen? I think you’ll find this passage as amazing as I have!
For further reading on the topic of final judgement see
2 Corinthians 5:10
Romans 14:10-12
Ecclesiastes 12:14
The Promise of Eternity
I wanted to include a paragraph or two, or three, on eternal life. Exactly what that looks like is anyone’s guess and similar to much of what has been written in scripture the details are somewhat vague. However, some things have been revealed and a brief visit into those is interesting in itself. To begin, the promise of eternal life is at the core, very much the central theme of the New Testament as Jesus states clearly in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus never retracts or walks back this truth so read it carefully once again to make sure you understand. Still, according to the disciples who received their New Testament visions directly from God, before we can live in his presence many events will need to take place. Some of these are downright frightening and this material comprises the most talked about biblical happenings ever prophesied. In Revelation, the 66th and last book of the bible, is where you’ll find a ton of references to a “new Heaven and new Earth”. [You’re probably thinking, “what’s wrong with the old one?”] Yes, God’s plan is to totally destroy and remake Heaven and Earth. However, prior to that there are events leading up to the end of this world such as the “Rapture” where Jesus does not return to Earth but instead calls all believers, both the dead and the living to join him in Heaven wherein Christians going about their day on this Earth are said to suddenly vanish without any warning. This is prophesied to take place by the middle of the 7-year “Tribulation” period, or just prior to the second coming of Jesus and the final world war, or “Armageddon”. After winning the battle over evil Jesus will ultimately rule over the Earth in what is being referred to as “a thousand years of peace”.
As mentioned, the events above were all prophesied to take place prior to the end of this world and the creation of a “new Heaven” and a “new Earth”. God has to remake the Earth due to it falling into sin dating back to the beginning [in the Book of Genesis]. Did you know that God had given dominion over this Earth to Satan? I’d say this world is a little screwed up, so maybe you can tell now who’s been in charge? But what will the new Earth look like? I can only comment on what I remember mentioned but we can even find the smallest of those details fascinating. Namely the new Earth will be absent of both a Sun and a Moon, there will be no need since all light will emit from God. Also there will be no oceans though I do not recall reading an explanation for this change. [I do eat a fair amount of shrimp, and right now I’m really into Red Snapper filets! So please go easy on me God.]
We’re talking about a new start, how life might look for each of us who are lucky enough to live in eternity. Scripture provides one detail that was missing prior and that is everyone entering God’s eternity will receive back their physical body, resurrected; whereas prior to this time those who were saved were saved only in spirit. Several scripture verses do state that Jesus will reward his followers with meaningful and joyous work in the afterlife, based on God given talents and abilities. Other than that I don’t have the answers but I’m fairly certain that we will not be sitting around watching television all day? Repeating some interpretations of scripture we will be assigned tasks based on our individual talents but again I am, [as we all are], unable to speculate on the subject much, for it would be far too easy to misinterpret and get absolutely wrong. However, I would like to say that whatever life eternal looks like I don’t believe our human minds are yet capable of imagining how good living among our creator – the creator of the universe and all living things, will be.
For further reading on life in eternity I suggest these to start
John 6:54
Revelation 21:3-4, 22:3-5
Luke 19:17
Isaiah 65:21-23
Time Will Test Our Faith
Now I return to the only Earth we know, the one where we currently reside for this last argument. There’s nothing I have found that has given me more pause [when studying scripture] than the concept of “time”. I’m thankful to have endured through 9 hours of geology otherwise [in the absence of that information] I wouldn’t be able to share this with you today. You see, God is in no hurry but as it turns out we are, and that in itself poses a problem. Let me explain, it seems we’re on the clock constantly – there’s 60 seconds in one minute then 60 of those makes up an hour and 24 of those comprises a full day and after 30 of those a month is gone and by golly once 12 of those has gone by we’ve clocked an entire year! Add to that the average lifespan in the United States for women is 81 years and men 75 years, meaning on average we each will spend less than one century walking around on this planet, a planet that is 4.5 billion years old. And did you know the Earth was just a ball of fire when it first formed? It took from 100 million to 500 million years for it to cool and liquid water to begin collecting. Oxygen and the formation of an atmosphere capable of supporting life formed way after all that. When you walk outside nothing you see began the way it looks today so stop trying to time biblical events discussed herein as it will only lead to frustration. The probability of anyone reading this material and being a witness to a once in many thousands of years happenings such as the “Rapture” or the “final battle of Armageddon” is extremely minute. That said, I think we have a God that delights in surprises over and over so I wouldn’t put anything past him? I want to close by putting something into context, please do not be discouraged if during your brief lifetime you haven’t witnessed one of these amazing bible prophesies play out. According to some research 2,500 prophecies appear in the bible and 2,000 of them have already been fulfilled. Some of these prophecies are definitely future events, those found in the Book of Revelation and they go on to say that some of those unfulfilled prophesies were contingent on some thing happening; to complicate things note that God has given man and woman “free will”, so there’s always that… our job remains the same, keep the faith!
