Planning for a Successful Eternity
By Synthia Robinson-Pack
Two well-dressed men were talking at the funeral of a prominent millionaire.
"So, how much did he leave?" asked the first man. "All of
it," replied the other.
It is true that you cannot take it with you. When you die, you cannot take your fancy car, house or bank account with you. Although it is true that some people have chosen to be buried with their wealth, they still did not take it with them. Because after death, man's body returns to the earth through decay and his spirit returns to God. The Bible says: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (1)
Our physical death is not the end of us though. It is the beginning of eternity in the afterlife for which we have prepared during our life on this physical earth. It is how we live our lives on earth that determines where we will spend eternity. If we spent our earthly life following Jesus, then we shall follow Him into eternity. If we denied Him during our physical life, however, then He will deny us. Jesus told His disciples, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (2)
Some people say that a loving God cannot condemn any man to hell. The truth is that each man determines for himself where he will spend eternity. God gives each of us a choice. It is our decision if we spend eternity in hell or heaven. Besides, we cannot expect Jesus to simply open up Heaven to us when we have spent our physical lives in direct disobedience to Him. Many people have defied God but they want Him to open His home (heaven) to them. No, a just God cannot allow those who have maligned, denied and attacked Him into heaven unless they have repented of their wickedness. This does not mean that God wants anyone to go to hell though. Not at all.
Scripture tells us that, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (3) God wants people to be saved and spend eternity in heaven with Him. In fact, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (4) God gave His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. If God wanted men to go to hell, then surely He would not have sacrificed His beloved Son. Still men and women refuse to accept the precious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, then they have the audacity to blame God because they will spend eternity in hell!
These same people are usually the ones that deny that God exists too. When a person finds himself in hell, however, he will not debate whether or not God exists. He will be too busy crying out for God's mercy. God will not hear their cries for mercy though because they refused to accept His mercy in their physical lives. Once they are in eternity, they cannot change anything. Their eternal existence will have already been determined and cannot be changed. Jesus illustrated the torment of a man who lived a life of wealth and ease but died in his sins. Jesus said,
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (5)
Lazarus was a beggar who served God during his lifetime of poverty and pain. When he died, Lazarus was carried by the angels to heaven. The rich man, however, had chosen to serve his own interests during his earthly life and did not care about others, including God. When he died, he went to hell where he was tormented. The man who had eaten sumptuously each day, begged God to allow Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue because he was so tormented. God reminded the rich man of his earthly life though. The rich man's torment and placed in hell was determined by his choices during his life on earth. The rich man then wanted God to send one of the dead prophets to his brothers so they would repent of their wickedness. God explained to him that even if they would not listen to Moses and the other prophets, then they would not listen at all - even if someone rose from the dead. A man determines his eternal existence himself - no one can choose for him.
After we die, we will face the Judgment of God. As certain as the proverbial death and taxes, judgment is guaranteed for every person.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (6) Many people are so concerned with their temporary living standards in their earthly lives that they do not even think about where and how they will spend eternity. They worry about having large homes and driving expensive cars but do not think about where they will after this life. They worry about planning for retirement but do not even ensure that their eternal life is addressed. They are so focused on the "temporary now" that they fail to address their "later eternity." Some of them are so earthly-minded that we can imagine how they would approach God in eternity. Consider the following scenario:
Mr. Executive arrives at the gates of heaven. He asks if they have his mansion prepared for him yet. God explains that He has no reservation under his name. "I am sorry, Mr. Executive, but I cannot find your name in our reservation book."
"Surely there must be a mistake!" insists Mr. Executive. "After all, I am certain that my secretary made the reservation for me."
"Oh," explains God. "I am sorry but that is against our policy. You have to make reservations yourself; no one else can do it for you."
Mr. Executive assures God that surely He can make an exception "this one time." God explains that the rules are eternal and cannot be changed for anyone.
At this point, Mr. Executive is becoming quite frustrated. After all, he is Mr. Executive. Doesn't God know who he is? God assures Mr. Executive that He knows exactly who he is. In fact, God reveals Mr. Executive's entire life, including numerous areas that surprises Mr. Executive and ones that he would prefer not to remember. Every word, every action, every secret is revealed to Mr. Executive's horror.
"Surely you must examine all the good things that I achieved," Mr. Executive whines. He tries to get God to focus on the positive things of his life.
"Well," God asks. "Did you help to increase My Kingdom through tithes and offerings?"
"No," Mr. Executive explains, "but I built a multi-billion dollar business empire."
"Did you help the poor and downtrodden as I commanded?" God inquires.
"No, but I did form a charity in my name that was a great tax write-off."
"Well, what did you do that was so wonderful?" God asks.
The man boasts of his huge mansion that was photographed for countless magazines. He bragged about his huge yacht that took him around the world. He listed all of his numerous assets, including several million dollar bank accounts. Mr. Executive continued to extol his financial genius and his corporate expertise that catapulted him to great fame and riches.
Finally God looks at him and asks one question: "What do you have here now as you stand before Me?"
"Nothing," confesses the man.
With great sorrow, Mr. Executive looks at God and comprehends that everything he achieved on earth was nothing. That in his quest for money, he lost great treasure; in his drive for the "good life," he had lost eternal life. With horror the man stands before God, stripped of everything - naked - just like the Scriptures foretold. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. (7)
God voice is strong and just as the man before Him stands judged by his life. "Depart from Me, you worker of iniquity. . ." (8)
Although this scenario treats the judgment of God more casually than it actually is, it stills helps us to understand the manner in which many people plan for their temporary lives and neglect to think about their eternal future. It is important, however, that people understand that they can plan their earthly lives down to the nth degree but if they fail to plan for eternity, then they have ultimately failed life. This is because true life does not exist in this temporal realm as we know it now; real life is found in living in the Presence of God through eternity. Jesus asked, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (9)
How about you? Are you gaining as much of the world as you can but losing your soul? Are you so busy making this life comfortable that you don't have time to plan for eternity? If so, then you need to consider your decision to go to hell. In the corporate world, there is a saying that "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Well, the same holds true also in eternity - although there you will have longer to think about your failure.
1.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
2. Matthew 10:32-33
3. II Peter 3:9
4. John 3:16
5. Luke 16:19-31
6. Hebrews 9:27
7. Ecclesiastes 5:15
8. Luke 13:27
9. Matthew 16:26 © Copyright 1993, Synthia
Robinson-Pack. All rights reserved.