M-G: 7.14.12 // And Then What

A young man was asked after graduating from High School what his plans were for the future. He replied, “Go to college.” And then what? “Get a job.” And then what? “Get married.” And then what? “Buy a house and raise a family.” And then what? “Retire and enjoy my grandchildren.” And then what? “Well, I guess I will die like everybody else?” And then what?

He didn’t have an answer. For a believer in Jesus Christ the answer to the final question, “And then what?” or the great next is living in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in heaven, not so for the unbeliever! For those who do not have a personal and spiritual intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, the answer to that question takes an ominous and unavoidable negative turn to the n^th degree with finality: eternal separation from the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit upon physical death.

We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners (Rom 3:23; 5:12). The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God (Rom 6:23a), but the great news is it doesn’t have to end that way! We can exercise our freedom, right here right now, to choose to be rescued from death’s final resting place (the lake of fire, Rev 20:14-15, KJV) and headed toward an opposite reality! The latter part of this verse in Romans declares that “but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23b; cf. Jn 3:16).  

Thank God there is an escape from the inexorable forces of sin and death upon humanity! For those who receive God’s offer through faith by calling upon the Lord [Jesus Christ] for salvation (Rom 10:13; Eph 2:8-9), the great next is eternal bliss in glory or heaven, which we call home who believe in Jesus Christ as God’s one and only true Messiah (Acts 4:12). So, what are your plans for the future? And then what? <><