WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

by Dan Goddard

Our eternal salvation is the most important thing in this life. It doesn’t matter what we have accomplished if we lose our souls in Hell—we loose it all. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, “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?” Nothing in this world is worth losing our soul over. This life is very short. “It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14).

In eternity we will be placed in only one of two possible places: Heaven or Hell. Heaven is so wonderful, we can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like, but Jesus says, “...few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Heaven is described by our Lord as containing many mansions (John 14:1-3). In Revelation 21:4 we read, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Hell is so terrible that we cannot comprehend how horrible the torment will be with the continual weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). Jesus says “...many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). Those who go there will be “...cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). Then in Revelation 20:15 we are warned “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” The person who ends up in Hell will only have himself to blame.

Both Heaven and Hell will last forever and ever (Matthew 25:46). Both are eternal and everlasting. The vast majority of people are living their lives as though they don’t believe there is going to be an eternity. Satan has lulled people into a state of complacency. Let’s make sure that we avoid Hell and that we go to Heaven. We must “...give diligence to make your calling and election sure...” (2 Peter 1:10).