As a septuagenarian, I am more keenly aware of the end of life than I was as a 12-year-old boy. My wife and I have purchased our burial plots in the Rest Haven Cemetery. We have wills to govern the disposition of our worldly goods. Most importantly, she and I have a personal relationship with the Giver of Life, the Creator of the Universe, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Death for us is but a change of address.
Many years ago, we attended a nearby Baptist church for a short season, looking for a new ‘church home.’ Before the regular church service, we attended a Bible class with other married couples our age. At our last time in that class, the leader pointed to the end of life. A question was asked. Absent anyone answering, I quoted Shakespeare from Macbeth: “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a fleeting shadow.” (I used fleeting instead of walking. Because it’s a better choice of wording. Shakespeare would agree.)
A a long, quiet moment, a man remarked, “I think you’re too intelligent for us.”
What happens to us when we die?
Yes, even you are going to die.
As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him. — Hebrews 9:27-28
If we confess our sins, He [Jesus Christ] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9
What happens to the unrepentant people? As we say in South Texas parlance, “It ain’t pretty.”
The book of Mark, chapter 9 has the answer:
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, 44 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, 46 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
This word ‘worm’ means ‘maggot; or ‘grub.’
Is there an unforgivable sin?
Consider the Execution of Stephen Barbee 11/16/2022. Moments before the lethal injection, the Warden asked if Stephen has last words. I quote from Awesome98.com:
“I want to take this moment to be shared with everyone, to give God all the glory of our love, peace wisdom, kindness, and respect. God knows the truth. He is the truth, the way, and the life. I don’t want this to be a sad moment for all my friends and loved ones. God gave his blood and died in 3 days for the glory and grace for all of us that will serve him an eternity. I want to thank all the field ministers for doing a good job of changing people and teaching the word of God. It’s a different place now. Thank you minister and my brothers I, love them. I also want to thank the field ministers that helped me get through this. I want everyone to have peace in their heart that only Jesus can give us. I love you Jennifer, Ashley, and Fabio. Thank you for everything. Thank you, brother, I’m ready to go home. I’m ready Warden send me home. I just want everyone to have peace in their heart, make eternity with Jesus, give him the glory in everything you do. I’m ready.”
End quote.
Not the End, but the Beginning
“Only one sin that can’t be forgiven is on God’s list—and that is the sin of rejecting Him and refusing His offer of forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ. This alone is the unforgivable sin, because it means we are saying that the Holy Spirit’s witness about Jesus is a lie (see Luke 12:10).” — Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
You may say, “But you don’t know what I have done.” You may be correct. But God knows. He is omniscient (all-knowing).
Most of us die in our sleep. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, the three leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, and accidents.
According to the Bible, the Word of God, the one cause of eternal death is the rejection of God’s grace, the gifts of the power and the desire to do His will. It is by Grace we are saved from eternal torment. It is God who gives you the desire to repent from your sins and it is God who empowers you to do His will.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 