Death & Judgment

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9: 27, 28)

There is no salvation after death. If you die unsaved, you will seal your fate eternally. In Luke 16: 22-26 we read:

"...the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."

If one dies as this rich man, unsaved and unforgiven of sins, he will suffer the same fate as he. It is a place of "torment," a place of punishment.

People live their lives as if they had all the time in the world. They put off coming to terms with their God, the one against whom they have lived in open rebellion. People can be heard to say - "I'll get straightened out one day and then I will make my peace with God." Sadly, such promises are rarely genuine and the person saying this will probably never get "straightened out," at least till they lie cold in the coffin. People put God off and expect him to be there for them when they get ready to deal with him and the state of their souls.

We may build and save, "tear down barns and build bigger ones," and feel safe. We will say to ourselves at that time - "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." However, we may hear the Lord reply to us, saying:

"Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12: 18-21)

James gave a similar message, writing:

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you...You have hoarded wealth in the last days...You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." (James 5: 1-5)

"But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep." (Luke 6: 24,25)

A man may live in luxury all his life, yet lose it all in hell forever. Death is the great reversal, as is the second coming of Jesus. Those who live in luxury now, wickedly, will become the poor throughout the ages to come. Those who live in poverty now will be rich throughout eternity.

"Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5)

Are you "rich toward God" my friend? That is what counts. Your wealth in this world means nothing. The elect are generally the poor and despised in this world. A person's "high birth" and "nobility," like earthly riches, count for nothing. Only those who have come to Christ, been born again, are truly the "high born," "rich," and "noble."

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2)