If You Were to Die Tonight, Where Would You Go?
Guests: Doug Sharp, Rich Geer, Joshua Gilbert
Description: Joshua Gilbert tells the story of an older gentleman who would hand out tracts and ask this question of those who passed by. The effect this had on the people taking this message from him was not realized until thousands of people came forward with their testimony and finally tracked him down and thanked him.
Death is an interesting phenomenon. There is a moment where the soul leaves and everything ceases functioning. It’s not like you die one cell at a time; it’s like a light switch being turned off.
My wife Vivian was working massage therapy one day and the next day I had to take her to the hospital with breathing problems. Ten days later she was gone, the result of the cancer invading her lungs. Alive one day, gone the next. But I had the confidence that I knew where she was: with Jesus.
Do you have the assurance that you’re going to heaven? There are critical questions for you to answer. Everyone must face death, and if you aren’t prepared for it, you are living a lie.
I John chapters 4 and 5 explains how you can know that your destination is heaven. Read it. If you don’t know, either you are deceived, you don’t have enough information, or don’t care, and your eternity is in jeopardy.
John 5:11-13 says, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
Those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are going to heaven. It is not of any good works that your destination is determined since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Also, knowing that He is your creator and that you are responsible to Him as His creation is where your purpose comes from. God has assignments he wants you to accomplish. He has created you for good works, but since everyone falls short, it isn’t enough to assure salvation. It is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross that paid for all of our sins.
There is a God-sized hole in our heart that only He can fill. Some instead harbor demons who promote the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). These are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Red flags here. If you find any of these part of your life, you’re in trouble and risk an eternity apart from God.
But if you invite Jesus in and allow the Holy Spirit to control your life, what follows are these fruits: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance; against such there is no law.
Things go a lot better if you are in harmony with heaven and are following the purpose for which you were created.
How do you get right with God? Realize that you are a sinner, and your sins keep you from heaven. Turn away from them. Then believe that Jesus Christ paid for those sins on the cross and receive Him into your life. Ask Him to be your Lord and bring your life into control. I Cor. 12:3 says, “Wherefore I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” Is Jesus your Lord? If not, make him so today.