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It should be a sobering and solemn thought to all that the physical life of everyone ends in an open grave. While physical life will cease for all, each person has an immortal spirit that will never die. What if I have failed to obey Jesus, the Savior, when I die and find myself lost at the Judgment? What will this mean? What is involved in being “lost,” both in this life and in the world to come? If I am lost:
- I will miss the best earthly life. The God who made us knows His creation fully. He knows how we think, what is best for us, and what kind of life will bring us the greatest degree of happiness and peace. Those who deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live sober, righteous and godly lives have the best life here (Tit. 2:12).
- I will miss Heaven, the culmination of all of the blessings and promises of God. This eternal realm is free of sin, sorrow, temptation, and pain where we will be in the wonderful presence of God, His Son, and all of the righteous ones of the ages forever (Rev. 21:1–7). Christ returned to the Father to prepare Heaven for those who are/will be saved (John 14:1–4). I will forfeit Heaven if I am lost.
- I will be cast into Hell, neither a pleasant prospect nor a popular subject, but a place about which Jesus actually said more than He did about Heaven. The Bible describes Hell as the culmination of all of the awfullest circumstances of this life greatly multiplied. Those in Hell will undergo indescribable suffering and anguish in the company of Satan, his demons, and all of the wicked people of the ages (Mat. 25:41, 46; Mark 9:48; Luke 16:23–28; 2 The. 1:9; Rev. 20: 15; 21:8; et al.).
- I will be lost forever. Hope of relief provides some consolation for our earthly trials and pains, but it is a total stranger to the inhabitants of Hell. It is as eternal as Heaven, with no exit door or escape hatch (Mat. 25:41, 46; Luke 16:23–28). It is not a place of probation; our “probation” period is in this life. There are several “second chance” theories, but the Bible knows nothing of any of them.
- I will cause others to be lost. We influence most those we love the most (family, friends). The lost rich man became concerned about his brothers, fearing too late they would follow him to the place of torment (Luke 16:27–28).
Jesus died to prevent the tragedy of our being lost. He saves those who obey Him (Mat. 7:21–23; Mark 16:16; Heb. 5:8–9). The Bible will read at the Judgment just as it reads now.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX May 30, 2008].
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
