Three Possibilities


Tomorrow will mark two weeks since my Dad passed away.

It honestly doesn't seem real yet.

Even though I watched him go.  Even though his obituary has been published in the newspaper.  Even though my mom has been told that his ashes are in a box, ready to be picked up or put into an urn.  

And, last night while I was with some friends - I realized there are only three possibilities here (maybe four if you're Catholic).

  1. Dad is in heaven
  2. Dad is in hell
  3. Dad is nothing more than a pile of ashes sitting in a box 
As Christians - the Bible tells us that there IS a heaven and a hell - so possibility number 3 should really be off the table. However, Satan loves to whisper about it - because he knows that by doing so, he can unravel you (or me).  The key here is to stand firm in faith.

So now, with option 3 gone - John 5:29 teaches, there are only two possibilities: "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

And John 3:16 reminds us that God gave his son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins by being tortured and crucified. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." 

Well, Dad was a good man who sought to do good throughout his entire life.  So it stands to reason that he should be raised to life.  Further, I know Dad believed in God because before he died we asked him if he'd like to speak to a Chaplain and he said, no that he "talked to God directly."  That means Dad is in heaven now - and that thought, is truly the only thing that is holding me together.

But what about those people who don't know Jesus?  Who don't believe in God?  Who - maybe only because we've failed to share the good news with them - are headed for a fate WORSE than death?

My dear friends - Heaven is real.  Hell is real.  

It is up to us to ensure that we talk openly and proudly about our faith - and that we live in a way that reflects God working in our lives.  For it is by doing those things, that we can help till the soil so the seeds of faith may grow and blossom in those around us.











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