Tag jesus

Where Will You Go After You Die? A Reformed Perspective on Eternity, Judgment, and Hope

Michael Leave a comment

Every second, two people die — stepping into eternity forever. What happens after death? Discover the sobering truth from Scripture and the hope of salvation through Christ alone.

Credits: Externally sourced content, reviewed and approved for publication.

Where Will You Go After You Die?

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” – Hebrews 9:27

Every second, about two people die somewhere in the world — roughly 120 per minute and 173,000 per day.
(Source: Statistics Times, “World Birth and Death Rates,” updated 2025, https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/world-death-and-birth-rate.php.)

By the time you finish reading this, nearly 200 people will have stepped into eternity — some into everlasting joy, others into everlasting judgment.

Death does not discriminate. It does not wait for retirement or respect youth. You can be 18 or 88, in perfect health or nearing your final breath — the result is the same:

“You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’ … So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:3,12

The statistics are staggering, but the truth behind them is more sobering: your days are numbered by God. Every heartbeat, every sunrise, every conversation is one step closer to the day when you will meet Him face to face.

The Inescapable Appointment

The Bible is painfully clear: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

There are no do-overs, no reincarnations, no “see you on the other side to make it right.” The moment your soul leaves your body, your eternal destination is sealed forever.

Jesus Himself said:

“The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out — those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” – John 5:28–29

If you were to die tonight, would you stand before God as forgiven or condemned? That question is not morbid — it’s merciful. God tells you the truth now so you can respond before it’s too late.

A Story of Grace: Chuck Colson

Consider the story of Charles “Chuck” Colson — once known as President Nixon’s “hatchet man.” During the Watergate scandal, Colson was infamous for his political ruthlessness. But in 1973, a friend handed him Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

Late one night, Colson sat in his car, overwhelmed by conviction, and surrendered to Christ. He later said:

“I realized that for too long I had put my trust in myself alone, and the result had been a moral and spiritual emptiness.”

(Source: Prison Fellowship, “Watergate: The Glorious Defeat of Chuck Colson,” https://www.prisonfellowship.org/story/watergate-the-glorious-defeat-of-chuck-colson)

Colson’s conversion shook Washington and eventually led him to found Prison Fellowship, now the largest prison ministry in the world. He was once a man enslaved to pride and power — until Christ set him free.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Life Is a Vapor

In contrast, some people enter eternity without warning. In 2020, when Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crashed, the world stopped in disbelief. One moment, he was planning his daughter’s basketball game; the next, both their lives were over.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity or an unknown name — death arrives when you least expect it.

“You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” – James 4:14

Fame, wealth, and legacy can’t stop the clock. Death humbles every title, erases every trophy, and silences every boast. What will matter most when you stand before the throne of God is not who you were — but Whose you were.

Heaven or Hell — And No Middle Ground

A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that while 73% of Americans believe in heaven, only 62% believe in hell.
(Source: Pew Research Center, “Views on the Afterlife and Eternal Destiny,” November 15, 2023, https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/11/15/views-on-the-afterlife-and-eternal-destiny/)

Many imagine that “a loving God wouldn’t send anyone there.” But Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven.

He called it a place “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48), a place of “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12).

Hell is not the absence of God’s presence — it’s the absence of His mercy. It’s justice without grace.

Heaven, by contrast, is not a reward for good behavior but a gift for forgiven sinners who trusted Christ alone.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith — and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8–9

How Can You Know You’re Saved?

Many people say, “I hope I go to heaven.” But the Bible doesn’t leave salvation up to hope — it offers assurance.

“Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” – John 5:24

That’s not religion. That’s rescue.

Christ came to bear the punishment your sins deserve. On the cross, the wrath of God fell on Him so that grace could fall on you. When He rose from the dead, He conquered death — not in theory, but in history.

Your only hope is to be united to Him by faith.

Your Urgent Call

Friend, this is not a message to file away for later. Every tick of the clock echoes eternity.

“Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2

Repent — turn from your sin and self-reliance. Believe — trust that Christ’s righteousness, not your goodness, is what saves.

Don’t gamble with your soul. Whether you’re 18 or 88, your days are numbered, and eternity will come faster than you think.

One Final Thought

If you died tonight, what would you say to God? What would He say to you?

Imagine standing before His throne and hearing one of two voices — either “Well done, good and faithful servant,” or “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”

That’s not drama. That’s destiny.

Don’t wait for someday — eternity is one heartbeat away. Believe. Repent. Live.

Should you ever remove a brother or sister from a small group or exclude them in any way?

Michael Leave a comment

Why am I writing this? Over the years, I’ve seen this issue come up over and over. Here are some things that have happened at different churches and different times-

Situation 1- A brother desires to join a Bible study and is excluded. The people in the Bible study proclaim it’s an exclusive Bible study and is not welcome.

Situation 2- A brother joins a small group and is told to leave the small group chat and not post about scripture or Christ.

Situation 3- A couple has been dating for a while and then breaks up. When they see each other in church, one party scuttles away, avoiding the other person.

Situation 4- A couple sisters have been really good friends for a while and are now intentionally avoiding each other at church.

Situation 5: A guy asks out a girl- This creates awkwardness and now the girl is avoiding the guy

People intentionally avoid each other at church. People can be exclusive. Is this ever okay? How are we to think through these situations? What are the principles?

As a general rule, we want to resolve the differences we have with people rather than harboring grudges. We want to have and develop a pattern of forgiveness over avoidance. There is a connection between forgiveness, and inclusion. Bitterness, unforgiveness, and grudges lead to disunity and avoidance. Forgiveness leads to kindness, unity and a tender heart.

Ephesians 4:30-32

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

As a general rule, as our hearts delight in the Lord and who he is, we will desire what the Lord wants. The Lord wants us to witnesses for His Gospel as a Gospel community. A love that hates and avoids is foreign to the New Testament. There is no such thing a genuine sacrificial, agape love that avoids another believer. Avoiding people is what the world does. Some unbelievers operate on two principles- If I like this person I’ll love them back. If they don’t love me then I’ll avoid them. This is not Biblical love. This is a conditional based love. But Biblical love even loves one’s enemies!

Matthew 5:44- “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

What was Christ’s Example?

Romans 5:7-8

For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In addition, we are united in Christ; one body and one spirit.

We are one body. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We are one Body, members of one another. As a general rule, we should act as though we are one body, treating each other as God’s family. We ecnourage each other as we see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

What about excluding someone from a small group?

Well one argument is that it’s a small group setting and everyone needs to feel comfortable if things are being shared. I’m not dismissing that argument. Here are some principles to consider:

  1. Is the context of the conversation so intimate that you have to exclude someone? Love should strive to include rather than disconnect someone from the brothers as a general rule with some exceptions
  2. People go through different seasons. This brother may only be connected to you and the small group. It’s possible that someone is disconnecting this brother from the only brothers this person has in his life. We know great preachers sin and are prone to fall. No one has arrived. What’s the trade off?
  3. If posting scripture in a small group chat offensive? We gain knowledge from pastors we don’t know all of the time and listen to them.
  4. As the body of Christ, we see patterns of mutual discipleship and encouragement- encouraging one another in the Word until we see the day drawing near

When I think of avoidance, I think of different categories-

  1. Situational. People avoid each other because of something the other person did to them. Asked them out, broke up in the relationship, gossip, slander, assumed motivations, the list goes on.
  2. Fixed items- Race, ethnicity, age, stage of life, intelligence, gender, rich/poor

So, should we ever avoid or exclude a brother or sister?

Do everything possible to not exclude a brother or sister especially if it’s a men’s bible study or women’s Bible study. I know there are exceptions. And some good exceptions. People will have different opinions. But I’ve seen too many people fall into egregious sin. Former regular attendees leave the faith. We never know what someone is going through. Stories of marriages imploding. These men or women didn’t have friends they could talk to and work out issues with. We need each other. Forgiveness leads to unity. Delight yourself in the Lord, love your enemies, follow Christ’s example, act as the body we are in Unity, doing everything we can to benefit the body and use our gifts. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself this question- What is best for this person? Reconcile. Exclusion and avoidance of believers is not the type of love we are called to but a sacrificial, agape love as a Gospel community and Gospel witness. There is something deeply wrong with our hearts if we are avoiding other believers. When the world becomes more loving than the church, it can be enticing to leave. People will start wondering if anything has changed in these people’s hearts if the world loves them more than the people in the church. The Gospel is not just a message. It’s a life lived out authenticated by our love for one another. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Love. Strive for the love of Christ and let him be our example