#10 Heaven or Hell

This is week 10 in our series, 10 Things Every Christian Should Know. You likely know I've just scratched the surface in my list. Next week I'll begin a study of the Ten Commandments. I hope you'll keep watching and sharing these sermons.

Today I want to conclude this series talking about death and life after death. If you're a believer, you know that there are two alternatives after your life on earth is over. Those alternatives are heaven and hell.

This has been an interesting week for me. I was called upon to do the funeral of an unbeliever. After that, I received a call from a friend whose brother died at a very young age. His brother was a believer, and my friend, while hurting, was thankful.

I received a text as I was typing this sermon from a friend who with a family member that's dying, and the dying family member was afraid of burning in hell. They needed assurance. Earlier today I received a call about another funeral of someone that was somewhat of a recluse, with no family and few friends, and their faith is unknown.

The statistics are impressive: one out of one die. Around 150,000 people die every day in this world. Ecclesiastes 3 begins this way: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die." Hebrews 9:27 tells us this: "It's appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment."

Each and every one has one of two options, heaven or hell. Jesus had much to say about both. For those that doubt hell, listen to what Jesus said in Mark 9, beginning at verse 43. I'll go through verse 48.

Jesus said, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one foot than be thrown into hell with two feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It's better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where maggots never die and the fire never goes out."

Jesus spoke about hell. He also spoke about heaven. In John 14, Jesus spoke about his Father's house with many mansions that's prepared for us, his followers. You see, heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. From the cross, Jesus promised paradise to the thief who repented.

Heaven and hell are very real. There's thinking in this world that everybody goes to heaven. As my friend Ken Smith says, that's a lie from the pits of hell, and it smells like smoke. Often we will see a celebrity die that's a household name. It's amazing to watch people say that they're another angel now, or in a better place, or resting in peace, or even in heaven, when that person had no connection to God at all.

Heaven is not automatic. The Bible is very clear about this fact. It's been 40 years, I suppose. My father was in Saint Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, with serious heart troubles. I remember sitting by his bedside, and he looked at me and he said, "I'm ready to go home."

I knew he didn't mean Ackerman; he meant heaven. I was 20 or 21 at the time, and I didn't know what to say. Today I know what to say. My father was a great man, a great man of God, and he was so looking forward to heaven. He had no fear of hell, nor do I.

If you're a Christian, you need to be the same way. Hebrews 13:14 tells us, "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." I'm looking forward to heaven.

A little girl was spending her first night away from home with her cousins. At bedtime she was crying, and her aunt asked her, "Honey, are you homesick?" And the little girl replied, "No, ma'am, I'm here sick." Isn't that a great answer? This world can make us hear sick. It seems to get worse all the time.

In my life I've lived in three states: Georgia, Mississippi, and Indiana. I have people that I love dearly in all three of those places. When I'm in Georgia, I miss Indiana and Mississippi. When I'm in Mississippi, I miss Georgia and Indiana. When I'm in Indiana, I miss Georgia and Mississippi.

It finally hit me a few years back: I'm not home. This world is not my home. I'm looking forward to something much, much better. Scripture has much to say about heaven and hell.

You know, I know there are several books and movies about heaven and people going and coming back. Not too long ago, one of the authors of one of those books admitted that he made it all up. I want to be careful to make sure that I build my theology on God's Word and not from stories from this world. That's good advice, by the way. Make sure your belief is biblically based on all matters.

Let me tell you some things that I do not worry about. I do not worry about getting a ticket driving a hundred miles an hour; I don't drive that fast. I don't worry about dying in a skydiving accident; I'm not jumping out of a plane. I don't worry about overdosing on drugs; I don't do them. I don't worry about going to hell, because I'm a child of the King, and Jesus has made arrangements for me.

Today I pray you are sure of your eternal destination. If not, send me a message; I'd love to talk with you. Let's pray together.

Father, make it real for this world. Make them know, this world know, that they must make a choice, that they must come to Christ. Father, for those that are viewing this, help them to be totally sure, and if they're not, let them do something about it. If they have friends that they're concerned about, maybe they can share this with them, because they need to know that it's one or the other.

Father, thank you for heaven, and thank you for the great reunion we will share in days ahead. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. God bless you. We begin the Ten Commandments next week.