TLC

Trinity Lutheran Church McAlester

What happens when I die?

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Humans were created immortal by God in the beginning, but Adam and Eve broke God’s one rule: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2.16-17) They ate the forbidden fruit and suffered the consequence of losing their immortality, eventually dying as promised. Because of them, the world was cursed along with all of its creatures including humans so that all people die. (Num. 16:29)

Skeptics may not believe all that the Bible offers, yet what better truth is there in the world to put your faith in than the Bible? Scientific theories and proofs and formulas change – get redefined — over time with new insight and discoveries. Yet the God’s Word remains the same today, yesterday, and always. So why not just go with what God says on life and death? He’s the one that offers hope – the certain kind.

God’s Word says that when you die, your body is either “buried or eaten by sharks,” according to a prominent theologian. (think about it) Meanwhile, the soul of those believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior goes to heaven/paradise.

For the unbeliever, the future is not so good. Ever since Satan and all his evil angels were cast out of heaven for rebelling against God, hell has existed as their final destination. 1 Peter 3:19 says that the souls of unbelievers are immediately imprisoned in hell – a place of eternal torment. That would be the fate of all people born since the first couple sinned, except for Jesus dying and rising again to bring God’s forgiveness to all those who believe Jesus died for their sins.

1 Thess. 4.13 describes the scene when Jesus returns on the Last Day of the universe to judge the living and the dead. In short, it’s like this. The dead are raised to bodily form and join the living in the clouds where all of them meet the Lord God. That event is the final judgment and the unveiling of a new heaven and new earth. The righteous (believers) go on to the new heaven, while the rest are doomed forever to hell.

So when you die, your body decays some place – that’s a given. Your soul goes to heaven or hell. No second chances exist. No appeals. Just eternity based on what you believed about God while you were alive. Think what you believe matters now?

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