Not Everyone Dies and Goes to a “Better Place”

The Bible is one story about one guy: Jesus. He is perfectly fascinating and totally compelling. Even though the majority of people in our focus groups knew barely anything about him, they still like him. So, dear Christian let’s play the only hand we’ve got. Let’s start with Jesus. Let’s finish with Jesus. Because if people are going to reject something, it should be Jesus. If they are going to trip over a rock, let’s clear the yard and leave only the Rock of salvation.

As we convey this one story about one guy, we need to make sure people get the whole hard truth. If we actually believe in hell, in the hope of the gospel, in the death and resurrection of Jesus, then we need to say that. Maybe not all at once. But “not all at once” does not mean “never at all.” Right from the start the best friends of Jesus preached that “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). We can do no less.

Jesus said he has been given the duty of judging the world (John 5:19-29). Ironically, they judged him to be the sinner. People became so furious that Jesus would judge them that they had him arrested, tried, and murdered. Now risen and ascended into heaven, we read in Revelation 20 that one of the final events in world history will be the return of Jesus seated upon a white throne as the judge of the living and the dead:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15)

This is hard truth. But it is the whole truth that people need to know.

I was walking through an airport recently and saw a very elderly couple, easily in their 90s. They were shuffling along slowly, holding hands the whole way, looking incredibly happy together. Jesus wants a relationship with His people like that—intimate, connected, step in step, lifelong, always growing. And sharing that news with our world is anything but mean.

Some who hear that news will understand that the exclusive message of Christianity is actually a sign of God’s affection. Others will not. But our job is to make everyone aware. Salvation is a narrow door named Jesus. It is exclusive: There is one door. It is inclusive: All are welcome. The narrow door divides heaven and hell and it is closing. When people die, the door slams shut behind them and they will stand before Jesus. He is the one who will judge them. Right now, He weeps, imploring them to run by faith through the door that He suffered, died, and rose to open. The decision is theirs. The decision is yours.

(1)https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=owZc3Xq8obk