An elderly woman passed away. At her funeral, to comfort the mourners, the minister said, “I’m sure that Fern is right now comfortably lounging in a beach chair, on the pristine sands of WaiKiki; she’s watching the waves gracefully glide over the beautiful deep blue expanse of the ocean, smiling charmingly while sipping through a delicately placed straw in a large bottle of Dr. Pepper.”
Wow! That’s quite a mouthful. Some folks would love an eternity like that heavenly description. Wouldn’t you? Or, what would you like to describe your heaven? Streets of gold? The tree of life? No more pain? No more tears? What will life after death be like for you?
We may be taking too much for granted. While most people want heaven after this life, do you think that most people are marking out their journey here so as to obtain it?
I don't think so. Jesus would agree: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Jesus also says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
"And then ( Jesus) will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'” (Matthew 7:21-23).
When Israel's King David had mourned the death of his son by Bathsheba, he made a statement which indicated his belief in life after death: “But now he has died...Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me (2 Samuel 12:23).
There is hope in these words for the parents of a deceased child: “I shall go to him.”
The prophet Daniel was told by the Lord: “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age” (Daniel 12:13).
Jesus rose again from the grave. That’s easily found in your Bible; His resurrection gives us hope of being raised one day. The Bible gives proof of life after death.
Jesus told us that this world is not all there is; prepare now so that you can spend eternity with Him who loves you and has gone ahead to prepare a place for all who follow Him!