Except for atheism, every belief
system I can think of has a final accounting which happens after we die. Our
innate sense of justice demands this. We want to believe that those who kill the
defenceless and go unpunished in this world will face a final justice. For this
reason, Atheism is not a satisfactory system of belief.
Australians are confused about life
after death. In my article No 8 in November, I described the common view that all
the departed are up there somewhere watching over us. This is really only wishful
thinking. It doesn’t satisfy the need for justice. There is no basis for it in
the Bible.
The Bible describes a two stage process. When we die, we
first exist as souls without bodies in an intermediate state. We don’t know
what it will be like to experience this state.
The Bible does say there is an inseparable gulf between this
state and earth and it will continue until God decides to end this current
world order. Nobody except God knows when that will be.
On that final day of God’s choosing, Jesus will return to
earth as judge of all who have ever lived. Everyone will be resurrected from
the grave and everyone will stand before Jesus to be judged.
The
Bible is clear that Jesus will judge us on the basis of our faith or trust in
Jesus as our lord and saviour. Our salvation will not depend on doing good
works; rather it is a free gift from God.
Two
convicted criminals were executed with Jesus. Before he died, one of them
insulted Jesus, but the other told him that Jesus was innocent and said to
Jesus “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”. In his own way, he
acknowledged Jesus as Lord. Jesus reply was amazing “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
This conversation shows an amazing truth. Jesus forgave this
sinful man and accepted him, not because of the good things the man had done,
but because the man, by his actions, showed that he trusted Jesus to rescue him.
Those, like the thief, who have
trusted Jesus in this world will be given new bodies, similar but
different from our present bodies, to live with Jesus forever in a new Heaven
and a new Earth. Our new souls and bodies will be changed in many ways, including
to be united with God’s spirit in a way that excludes possible rebellion and
provides for a beautiful eternal existence.
Those who have turned their backs on God in this world will
be sent to a place called Hell. The worst aspect of Hell will be that God will
not be there to protect people from the consequences of their own evil actions.
Hell has been prepared for the devil and his wicked angels, so it will be a
place where these evil beings have free reign. It will be hell to be in their
company.
The Bible tells us not to judge others, that is Jesus’ role
and we can be sure he is absolutely fair, loving and just. We may think of many
hypothetical cases, but one issue is clear. If you have heard and accepted
God’s call to follow him, and if you continue living for Him, then you can be
assured of the heavenly reward.
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