If You Died Tomorrow, Where Would You Go?

This was an email I wrote to my cousin, who's young husband had a heart attack yesterday. Although this was a personal and heartfelt letter, I realized that as creations of God, we are all in the same family. God's wish is my own wish; that none should perish but have everlasting life...

Don’t things like this remind us how fragile life can be? It reminds us of our mortality. It reminds us that we really can’t control anything. We are caused to stop, reflect and think about what happens when we die.

The society we are a part of teaches us to do what feels right, when we want and that morality is based on personal preference and experience. If our time on earth is limited, then we should enjoy all of its pleasures. I mean, after all, what else is there? These are the same people who choose to ignore a Designer or a Creator. By admitting there is a Creator we are admitting that there is a standard of ethics and morality in which we must judge our decisions. If we admit that, we admit the Truth of God’s Word and by making that claim, we hold ourselves accountable.

Most of us don’t want to be accountable. Most of us believe that we control our own lives completely. Most of us believe that our standard of “good” comes from within ourselves. If we are nice to enough people, if we try not to lie, if we try to be givers…This is hopeless.

Let’s say for a minute that when we die, we will be held accountable for our actions. Not in the sense that some may think, but according to our beliefs not our deeds. Let’s use the Ten Commandments as a standard, remembering that God gave these to the Nation of Israel as a reference to judge morality or really, to serve as a mirror to their sin.

~ Have you ever told a lie? Come on now, answer truthfully. ;) Then what does that make you? A liar, right?
~ Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain? Meaning, have you use His name to show disgust? According to God, that makes you a blasphemer.
~ Have you ever worshiped a false idol? Meaning, has anything ever taken priority over God? Or have you ever prayed to anyone besides God? Or have you created your own idea of God?
~ Have you ever stolen anything? Now don’t forget how you answered the first question! What does that make you? No, not a “stealer”, but a thief.
~ Have you ever looked at a woman or a man with lust? Jesus says that he who looks upon a woman with lust is guilty of committing adultery in his heart.
~ Have you ever murdered someone? Jesus says that he who Hates a man has committed murder is his heart.

How many of those have you broken? That was six out of ten. Personally, I’ve broken those six and the other four. So let’s say for as minute that you are judged according to God’s Law. Would you be guilty or innocent? You may say guilty which would be correct or you may say innocent, “I am good most of the time and God is a just and loving God. Surely he won’t punish me.”

Well God is just and loving. Imagine that you are standing in a courtroom awaiting the judge’s sentence. You have committed an unimaginable crime. You say to the judge, “Judge, I have been mostly good all my life. I have only really messed up this one time.” Based on your argument, would the judge set you free or would the judge, required to uphold the law, sentence you to jail or worse?

Now let’s say that right before the judge passes his ruling, a stranger walks into the courtroom and says, “Wait, Judge! Before you sentence this man, I want to take his punishment. I will pay his fine with my money or my life.” This stranger is willing to take your punishment so that you may be set free.

We have broken God’s Law and for that the judgment we deserve is eternity separated from God, an eternity in Hell. BUT---There was such a man that was willing to take on the punishment of the world to set them free. “For God SO loved the world that he sent his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Salvation is not something to be earned. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” To God, our good deeds without Jesus as our covering are “like filthy rags.”

You are my family and I love each of you so much that I am willing to speak God’s truth and risk alienating myself. That's okay though. It is not me who offends you, it is God’s Word. Some of you may know Jesus as a person, as your Lord and your Savior. One day, when we are all in Heaven, we will rejoice together. But some of you may not and before those of us will be able to rejoice we will weep for you. I ask you today to consider your life. Consider a life without hope, a life without meaning. Now consider Jesus. He is alive and willing to take away your sins if you confess them to Him. His gift is free. He paid your penalty 2,000 years ago before you were born. His payment covers your sins in your past and your sins in your future. Receive it.

Ask yourself, “If I died tomorrow, where would I go?”