One of the most important things that parents should do is prepare their children how to handle death. When a grandparent dies, for example, we unconsciously sense that our parents serve as buffers between death and us. However, when a parent dies, there is no way to escape the reality that our generation is next in line. So every day, people are preparing for death either carefully or casually, either hopefully or haphazardly. The Spirit said to John in his Revelation, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13). Note that crucial phrase “in the Lord.” That reminds us that every human being either dies in the Lord or outside the Lord. Physical death seals our spiritual state for all eternity. Or as the writer of Hebrews summarized, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). No reincarnation. No second chances. No reruns. It is death and then judgment. For every believer, death is not the end of the story, but the eternal beginning. Death is only an exodus from all the bondages of this life, a sleep from which to be awakened, and a departure to our eternal home! Because of the resurrection of Christ, death results in gain, not loss (Luke 19:17), joy rather than sorrow (Matthew 25:21), pleasure instead of pain (Psalm 16:11), heaven and not hell, and eternal blessings rather than eternal banishment (Matthew 8:12; 13:50; Luke 13:28). In view of all this, there is an important question for you to answer. Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life? It is not a future experience, but a present reality! (John 5:24). Only confessing your sin to God and accepting Him into your life can guarantee that you will have eternal life. Decide now!
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