2. Hope For The Afterlife.

Billions of people, billions of souls, lost for eternity.

Here one moment and nonexistent the next moment.

All going to the same place regardless of how “good” or “evil” or generous or greedy they lived their lives. The most horrific tyrants and murders—Mao Zedong (Chinese socialist communist who killed an estimated 65 million people), Ivan The Terrible, Timur (in the 1300's in Afganistan he built a tower of living people cementing them together with brick and mortor), Adolf Hitler (communist socialist in Germany who murdered millions of people from his original targets, the Jehova Witnesses, political opponents, homosexuals, and the Romani people, to his later targest and the most well-known, the Jews), Joseph Stalin (communist socialist Soviet leader who killed more than 15 million people); the most wealthy of individuals who gained that privilege from lying, cheating, hurting, or even trampling the lives of others; the most honest, humble, poorest of people doing their best to live a “just” life; all going to the same afterlife regardless.

Life may not be fair or just, but the afterlife, according to this thought process, isn’t either. Then again, what is fair or just in that scenario?

As for me, I don’t believe everyone goes to the same place. If that were true, then we could all do whatever it takes to ensure our lives are as full and rich as possible and that our families and loved ones are also wealthy and on top. And why not? It’s one life, one experience, no consequence to how you live or gain wealth or power, no truth or meaning for good or bad, it just is.

Besides that, it would also mean that there would be no moral say on anything. The countries that still enslave people? Perfectly okay. The countries that murder political opponents and citizens who don’t tow the regimes line? Perfectly okay. The people who murder children, who defile children? Perfectly okay. And why not? We all go to the same place no matter what; therefore, there is no wrong; just the individual’s perception of what they think for themselves is wrong. Even a society enforcing their version of morality and right versus wrong would be nothing more than a tyrannical force imposing their perception on the weak.

What if I told you, though, that there is a universal standard for right and wrong and for morality, and that not everyone goes to the same place when they  die? That right there upsets many people. But what if I also told you that not everyone will be lost? There is good news!

You’ll probably hear me say this a few times because I believe it’s important, but the gospel is “the good news,” and the good news is that God so loved us (humanity) that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that whosoever believes in Jesus and accepts him as their Savior and Lord will have their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and be saved. That is, their spirit will be reborn and their invitation to the wedding feast will be made—heaven awaits.

The Gospel is the good news that God made a way to save us from an eternity separated from him by sending his Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sins; Jesus, who rose on the third day, who conquered Hell and the grave, and sits at the right hand of God.

How? 

Listen to my podcast Episode 063: EASTER to hear more about why it’s so important that God sent Jesus to save us and what he endured for us out of pure, unconditional love.

The short answer is this: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Side note: Did you know that no amount of good work on your part could ever save you and get you into heaven? The same goes for me.

Well, first and foremost, God commands us to preach the gospel. 

God commands us in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

And in Acts 1:8, “be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth.”

Okay, cool. But why? Why is it so important?

As I’ve mentioned, as much as we would like to be able to, we cannot save ourselves, and no amount of work on our part, no amount of good deeds, no amount of confession, no amount of candles could ever save us and get us into Heaven. No amount of confession to a priest could absolve you of your sins or save you; no amount of your own good works could ever repair your soul from your sin; only the blood of Jesus can wash you clean. I have more writings, books, and podcast episodes on this and similar topics if you are interested in learning more.

But another reason the message is so important is our responsibility to share it and our story of how Jesus saved us and how good God is because of this sobering reminder:

Matthew 22:14, “Many are called, few are chosen.”

You could very well help someone not be lost for eternity by telling your story about how good God has been in your life and how your relationship with Jesus has changed you and your life for the better.

117 billion people have existed on Earth; many will be lost. But your story could help someone in the many become a part of the few.

People may protest and deny the gospel, but no one can deny your personal story.