The question of what happens when we die will yield millions, if not more, various responses, ranging from "nothing" to reincarnation, to eternal damnation, and/or "heaven". There's no question we all can agree that when "we die", we are DEAD, in the physical sense. But what about the spiritual sense? Is there life after death? There are numerous books written with testimonies from people who were clinically dead, and testified to a life after death in which they saw and experienced joyful and terrifying events, ranging from encounters with loved ones, Christ, visions of hell, etc., but "were" they really dead? I mean, isn't death FINAL?
Christianity was founded on those early first century witnesses who testified to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ONE account of someone who not only preached about eternal life, but claimed to be the son of God, and testified that he "alone" brought salvation to those in need of forgiveness and love. But if he did die, was resurrected and is the son of God then why do so many people NOT accept him, today? Why are there so many competing religions, cults, skeptics who defy his even existence?
The bible speaks about "faith" as a gift. In other words, "if" you don't have faith then you cannot possibly believe in the gospel, Christ, the Old Testament, the exodus from Egypt, the fall in the garden, the conversion of Saul (Paul the apostle) on the road to Damascus, the existence and martyrdom of the majority of the apostles. In short, the gospel is foolishness to those who don't have faith.
So, IF we do live eternally as Christians believe, then what happens when we die?
I think most people with any ties to Christian theology believe that "good people" go to Heaven and "bad" people go to Hell. Well, that's pretty simple sounding but almost impossible to apply because one has to define what is "good" and what is "bad". As a Catholic child going through grade school, middle school, then in my teens, high school (I went to Catholic schools from age 8 thru 18) I always thought you had to really do "bad stuff" (like murder someone) to go to hell, or do heinous crimes, or violence, cruelty to others. I would bet that even in adult years some hold onto this belief in one facet or another. "You really have to be bad to go to hell."
The gospel doesn't support this belief for the simple reason that it pushes the condition of original sin. The bible tells a story in the first book of Genesis of Adam and Eve choosing to defy God, to rebel, and surrender to temptation to be "more like God", and even though this account appears completely silly with Satan as the serpent, and the tree of knowledge and good and evil, it does contain (for me at least) logic in its depiction of man which I believe is evident today.
The kernel of our being is a seed of rebellion and a propensity to do "bad". That doesn't mean we ALL will go around acting on that kernel of badness, but haven't you ever contemplated what causes humans to do bad stuff, and if "bad stuff" can range from seemingly mundane acts to deplorable acts then what is to be done with man after he dies? Is there any accountability after we die? The gospel simply says that we are ALL sinful and therefore in need of forgiveness, a release from our accountability for our sinfulness. That would be the reason for Jesus dying on the cross. That would be why Jesus preached so much about being the Messiah, the savior, the good shepherd. Jesus' sole reason for living and willingly going to the cross was to be "that sacrifice" for mankind if they believed in him, and he promises that if one believes in him, and takes up his cross, one will receive eternal life, albeit undeservingly.
One major thing to remember about God is that God is a merciful, loving, but just God. God has always been about accountability in owning our behavior and actions. God knows that our life on earth is a finite time and that when it's all said and done, we ARE accountable for how we lived our life, on earth. He only asks that we be "real" about it and accept that because we are "sinners" that we're not prideful in dismissing the redeemer (his son Jesus) he sent to account for our sins.
The question for you is "IF" Jesus DID exist, IS the SON OF GOD and avails himself to you to remove your sin and empower you with the Holy Spirit to combat your sinful compulsions on earth then why would God not hold you accountable for your sins after you die if you rejected his son who willfully went to the cross for you?
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