Let’s say that you live in a fine house with your charming family. Let’s say that your house is adjacent to some train tracks. For many years, you and your charming family have been living life – working, playing, loving each other, enjoying the fruits of your hard work and the love of your family, friends and neighbors. You have had some ups and downs, but for the most part life has been pretty good.
Now let’s say that I hear there is trouble headed your way. A runaway train careening down the tracks at a hundred plus miles per hour is definitely going to derail and crash right through your happy home and life. It is going to obliterate you, your family and your home. Everything you know and love will come to an end. You may survive… or not. Your spouse may survive… or not. Your children may survive… or not. If you do, you will be left devastated and alone.
Should I warn you that death and total destruction are headed your way? Your answer is of course… YES! Why would I keep that information to myself? Why would I not warn someone that I love and treasure that certain death is upon them? Of course I would. I would move heaven and earth if it would help in order to get you to hear me that total eradication is on your life.
Yet many would tell me, “I’ve lived here like this for years and years and nothing like that has ever happened. I don’t believe what you are saying. We are perfectly safe in our little home.” But it is going to happen, and you don’t or can’t or won’t see it.
In an instant, the warnings were real. Your final breath is upon you. Everything you have known, done, owned or worked for… nothing… none of it can save you from the train that is going to end your life.
Do you hear the warning?
Did you hear the warnings? Did you heed the warnings and you chose to ignore the warnings? Death and eternity are forever.
If I told you that your life, all life, as we know it today is going to end would you believe me? Yes, I know that we are all going to die someday, that is not what I am here to tell you about. I am here speaking about the “End of the Age”.
“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’
“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“’Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’” (Matthew 24:3-14)
I am speaking about the truth of Jesus’ physical return whereby He establishes His Kingdom to rule and reign on the earth — the final judgment. This is about each of us answering for every word spoken and the decisions, and choices that we have each made during our lives.
This is a “third rail topic” and will incite such anger and rage amongst those that believe they are “good folks”, just living life, loving everyone around them. I get it… I really do. But living a good life, being a good person makes the assumption that you are en route to Heaven because of your deeds and works and not because you have given your life to Jesus. Oh if only that were the case, then each of us could do enough good works to cover our bad deeds… and “we’re in”!
Scripture is clear about “working” our way to Heaven. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), “There is no on righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10), “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Where will you stand?
Will you stand before the Throne of God with King Jesus as your advocate and mediator? (1 Timothy 2:5) But Jesus stands as the Advocate between our repentant hearts and the law. If His blood has been applied to our lives through faith and confession of Him as Lord (Romans 10:9–10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), He pleads our case with the Righteous Judge. We may imagine the conversation going something like this: “Father, I know this one has sinned and violated our commands. He is guilty as charged. However, you have said that my sacrifice is sufficient payment for the debt he owes. My righteousness was applied to his account when he trusted in me for salvation and forgiveness. I have paid the price, so he can be pronounced ‘Not guilty.’ There is no debt left for him to pay” (Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:14).”[1]
And the fate of the unbeliever or non-believer? “… every single unbeliever who has died throughout history will be raised up to stand before God in judgment, every single one. This is the meaning of ‘Death and Hades’ delivered up the dead who were in them.” These are people who are presently in hell, a place referred to here as “Hades.” They are there now in judgment. You see there is kind of judgment that takes place immediately at death. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” The unbelieving dead are already in hell; even they will be raised to stand before God in the final judgment.
Imagine all the unbelievers standing before God in judgment. Who will be there? Well, of course the terribly wicked will be there. We think of cruel dictators like Adolf Hitler or, more recently, Saddam Hussein. Their bodies will be raised to face God in final judgment before the great white throne.
The self–righteous unbeliever will be there. He is the one who says, “I don’t need God. I’m a good person.” The Gospel is for others. Look at all the hypocrites in the church. You start telling them about their need for Christ and they start telling you about some hypocrite. Let me be clear: we will stand before God alone. Alone! We will not be able to hide behind the sins of others. It is not for other people’s sins you will be judged. You will answer for your own. Forget about the hypocrite. The question is, “What about you?” What about you?”[2]
That None Shall Perish
My intention in what I write is not to scare you. It’s not my intention to scare anyone into Heaven; I want that none shall perish (2 Peter 3:9). and that all are saved. I write to bring to light the truth, the truth of the Cross, the truth of Jesus, the truth of sin, the truth of salvation, the truth of eternity, the truth.
Ladies and gentlemen, while we do not know the date or time, we know with certainty that the end is coming. King Jesus is coming back and final and eternal judgment is coming with Him. God’s judgment will be upon ALL people; every person that has ever lived, or is living at the time of Jesus’ return.
While writing this I think about those that question why me about why I speak and write as I do about Heaven, Hell and eternity when my words, opinions, testimony and actions continue to provoke such visceral reactions from family, relatives and friends. I have been called a “trigger” (though I am not 100% positive that I know exactly what that means on any given day I’m pretty sure it is not a compliment).
I am abundantly aware that my beliefs continue to put me at odds with family, friends and a growing segment of society in general, and truth be told, I am okay with that.
As I put pen to paper, or speak out through our YouTube channel or Podcast I wonder who I am going to offend next. It seems there are a few less names on my Christmas list each year; while those that have no choice, either by birth or by blood, just simply go silent or ignore. And again, I’m okay with that as well.
You see I will not and cannot stop speaking the truth; the truth that the end of this life as we know it will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye. (1 Corinthians 15:52)
There are truths about which I cannot and will not stay silent. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Sin, Forgiveness, Redemption, Eternity, The Cross of Calvary, Heaven, Hell, The Rapture – on those topics I cannot stay silent. I will certainly offend some; and most likely lose another friend or have another family member go silent.
Living in this world as an outspoken Christian woman causes me to make a choice… am I willing to be labeled intolerant, small-minded and prejudiced? I have already been labeled “too holy” and that I am completely out of step with the realities of this world? Yes I am. You see that is because I am in this world, not of this world.
I make no excuses for who I am, what I believe and what I say. I will be called to answer at the Throne of God at the final judgment and not to this world. Alone I will answer for every word I have ever spoken, or written. We will all answer for our words, actions and deeds. (Matthew 12:36)
I will not and cannot compromise the truth. I will not edit my words to make them more palatable, I will not air-brush the truths of the Bible or God or Jesus or Holy Spirit, or turn down the volume to tickle the ears of the hearer. (2 Timothy 4:3)
Will you stand with King Jesus, your Advocate beside you? or will you be standing alone. The choice is yours.
Are you ready?
Note: This writing is based on a run-away train story related to me by my husband a few weeks back. At this writing, neither of us can remember the original author. My apologies to the original author.
[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Advocate.html
[2] https://fbchenderson.org/resource-library/when-unbelievers-stand-before-god/