The moment you die and you will

2 Thessalonians 1: 7-8 and give relief to all of you still bandaging your wounds, as well as to all the rest of us. On that day—when the clouds draw back displaying His powerful heavenly messengers in a fiery blaze, Jesus the Lord will appear from heaven dealing out perfect justice to anyone who doesn’t know God and anyone who disobeys the good news of our Lord Jesus. 9 And what’s to become of them? They’ll pay for what they’ve done; their punishment will be eternal destruction. And what’s worse? They’ll be banished from the Lord’s presence and glorious power.

Hell is nothing but yourself for all eternity – C. S. Lewis

Do you ever wonder what happens after you die? After all, it’s our human bodies that cease to function and we die, but the essence of who God made us to be – our soul – lives on.

But not all souls go to the same place and various religious traditions have their own doctrines. But the Holy Bible, the only authoritative source, is clear that we will either be happy or terrified.

Celebration or separation?

In hell you can't make up for mistakes. You can’t "accept" Jesus. You can’t repent. Once you die, it’s over. Time is up. Popular culture and the devil’s deceptive tactics entice us to live like hell yet expect heaven. But reality is that we don’t get a second chance. 

Here’s a definitive Scripture:

Hebrews 9:27 Just as mortals are appointed to die once and then to experience a judgment, 

28 so the Anointed One, our Liberating King, was offered once in death to bear the sins of many and will appear a second time, not to deal again with sin, but to rescue those who eagerly await His return.

Are you ready to face God when you die?

We will die one time and then we’ll experience judgment – you have to be ready for that day. If you need more proof – here’s the story of the rich man who died and wanted to be prayed out of hell and spare his family from the torment. This is super scary if you believe in purgatory or if you think you can be prayed out of hell!

You can’t be prayed out of hell when your body dies. 

That’s a fact. Read on:
Luke 16:19 There was this rich man who had everything—purple clothing of fine quality and high fashion, gourmet meals every day, and a large house. 20 Just outside his front gate lay this poor homeless fellow named Lazarus. Lazarus was covered in ugly skin lesions. 21 He was so hungry he wished he could scavenge scraps from the rich man’s trash. Dogs would come and lick the sores on his skin. 22 The poor fellow died and was carried on the arms of the heavenly messengers to the embrace of Abraham. Then the rich fellow died and was buried 23 and found himself in the place of the dead. In his torment, he looked up, and off in the distance he saw Abraham, with Lazarus in his embrace.

24 He shouted out, “Father Abraham! Please show me mercy! Would you send that beggar Lazarus to dip his fingertip in water and cool my tongue? These flames are hot, and I’m in agony!”

25 But Abraham said, “Son, you seem to be forgetting something: your life was full to overflowing with comforts and pleasures, and the life of Lazarus was just as full with suffering and pain. So now is his time of comfort, and now is your time of agony. 26 Besides, a great canyon separates you and us. Nobody can cross over from our side to yours, or from your side to ours.”

27 ”Please, Father Abraham, I beg you,” the formerly rich man continued, “send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers there, and they’re on the same path I was on. If Lazarus warns them, they’ll choose another path and won’t end up here in torment.”

29 But Abraham said, “Why send Lazarus? They already have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to instruct them. Let your brothers hear them.”

30 “No, Father Abraham,” he said, “they’re already ignoring the law and the prophets. But if someone came back from the dead, then they’d listen for sure; then they’d change their way of life.”

31 Abraham answered, “If they’re not listening to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone comes back from the dead.”

When you die, if you are one of the Lord’s, then you will be with Him! That’s what all of us should want! As  Jesus told the thief on the cross before He died:

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

If God calls you, choose paradise!