Going Somewhere

Your culture has a lot to do with your values and beliefs, and this is especially true when it comes to your spiritual beliefs. Most people would acknowledge that they have a spiritual component to their life, but I think that realization becomes stronger as they age, especially as they begin to contemplate their own death. Throughout history, man knows himself to be a sencient being (that is to say: possessing spirit, soul, and body) and that we either wind up in heaven or hell. This life is not all there is. In fact, it is only a small part of your life when eternity is factored in. I expect that most Americans believe that there is some form of life after death and that heaven and hell exist, but I know that is true in the South. Very early on, I was exposed to the fact that every living thing eventually dies and you better be preparing for where you will spend eternity, because you’re going somewhere. Most people believe that they are going to heaven, and I don’t recall meeting anyone who would admit they are going to hell, but I also remember my grandmother saying, “Everybody talking about heaven ain’t going there.”

If you believe hell is the type of place that I’ve always heard about, you wouldn’t want to end up there. I’ve never heard it described using any good characteristics. The best I’ve ever heard it described is as an eternal separation from God, and the worst is a place where you experience actual torment and suffering. Heaven, on the other hand, is described in terms or rest, reward, and an eternal relationship with God in a way we have never been able to experience before.

The sticking point begins when you start trying to figure out what is going to determine your eligibility to enter into heaven, and this is where culture, values, beliefs, and religion come in. Some people believe that God is a loving God and eventually everyone will find their way into heaven, because there are a lot of different religions, and therefore must be a lot of different ways to get there. But I believe that the only factor that will be considered will be your relationship to God, and more specifically with His son, Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I believe my salvation is founded in Jesus, and if you have this same relationship, then you don’t have to fear death. Therein lies the true peace of heart, for Jesus gives you back the song you were born with, that part of your heart that has been wired for experiencing God. The peace that knowing Jesus provides is that when you die you are saved from the penalty of death and sin and will live with Jesus forever in heaven. There is the security that nothing you have ever thought, nothing you have ever said, and nothing you could ever do can separate you from the love of God because of your relationship with His son, Jesus. Jesus took all of the anger out of God’s voice. When God looks at you now, He only sees Jesus, so that whenever He speaks to you, He only speaks to you in love.

I have held a lot of different jobs in my life. A few years ago, at the request of my wife and mother, I sat down and listed them. There were some places I worked at more than once, but to my surprise there were 28 of them. Now some people would say that there was simply a lack of commitment, but I was always interested in learning new things, doing new things, and being around people. Probably my favorite job was teaching. I simply loved teaching, and learning, and going to school. Over the years, I have met a lot of people who didn’t enjoy school, and I think it’s primarily because of tests. Well, at the end of life there is going to be a very important test, and it’s only going to involve one question with two parts. The question is going to be, “What did you do with what I gave you?” The first part is going to deal with what you did with Jesus. God sent His son to be the sacrifice for every single person, and He’s available to everyone. The answer to the first part of the question will determine where you go after your time here on earth, to heaven or hell. I mentioned there was a second part of the question. It’s also, “What did you do with what I gave you?” But this time it’s referring to your stewardship of the resources God gave you, not Jesus, but: time, talents, money, and all the other things He has provided for you. How you answer this part of the question will determine your rewards in heaven. But there are no rewards if you don’t get in. God has given you the question ahead of time. Make sure you answer it correctly.

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