So what if you’re wrong?
I recall a conversation I had several years ago with my cousin. She was very passionate about life, everything she did was all out. When she set her mind on something it was very difficult to convince her otherwise. So one day she called me up and we began to talk…you see my cousin had her own beliefs about heaven and hell. She believed in heaven but she believed that hell was a metaphor. She didn’t think that hell was a real place, therefore she believed that when she died the worse thing that could happen to her is that she would return to the ground…and the best thing that could happen is that she would live forever on the new earth.
Hmm…
Actually that’s not so bad. I mean if the worst thing that can happen to us after we die is either nothing, or eternal life on the new earth. That sounds like a pretty good deal. Live life how-ever you choose and end up either dead without life or knowledge of anything, or live forever on a perfect earth.
You see, she and I would go round and round with this discussion.
Here’s the problem with her belief system–it has no foundation. She claimed to believe the bible but she didn’t want to accept hell. Jesus Christ said;
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:4-5
Jesus describes hell as the place “where the fire never goes out” (Mark 9:43) and hell is also described this way;
“In hell, where he was in torment” (Luke 16:23).
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:46
Okay…I believe that hell is a real place that people who don’t accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior are sent to for eternal punishment. I believe that scripture is clear regarding hell and we have all been made aware of it.
So…what if I’m wrong and my cousin was right? Well the worst thing that can happen to me after I die if I don’t accept Jesus is, I go back to nothing, no feeling, no knowledge, no nothing.
But what if I’m right and she was wrong? Then the worst thing that can happen to me after I die if I don’t accept Jesus is, I live forever in eternal punishment, separated from God forever.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to take that chance. I would rather live believing that when I die there’s a hope of a better life after this life.
Sometimes this earth feels like hell, but the cool thing is, it’s the only hell that I will ever know.
You see… my cousin has found out the truth already, she was murdered at the age of 31. I often wonder where she is today and my hope is that while she was still alive she found the truth.
We are all created in the image of God, and God is eternal.
We will live forever… somewhere.
Where will you spend eternity?
Think about it…
In memory of Shani Renee Holloway