“I feel lost.” The cares of this world—work, studies, relationships, children, hobbies, television, the internet, and more—can easily consume us. While these “cares” may be important, they can also cause us to lose sight of what is most important in life: God and eternity. We should regularly reflect on where we are and where we are going. I hope and pray that you would take a little time to meditate on what lies ahead for all of us.
Life Is But a Vapor: Understanding the Fragility of Our Time on Earth
The Bible tells us:
“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” –James 4:14
- Our life here is like a vapor that we see on the side of a mountain in the morning. It forms quickly and disappears just as fast. In the verse above, God is reminding us that we are here on earth briefly. What lies ahead, for all of us, is our eternal residence – a place of residence that lasts forever.
One Life, One Chance: The Finality of Our Earthly Journey
“And as it is appointed for men to die once” – Hebrews 9:27a
- After we die, there is no reincarnation, no purgatory where we can be purified, and we don’t simply cease to exist. After death, something much more significant happens:
Our Divine Appointment: Standing Before God to Give Account
“For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. – Romans 14:11-12
- We all have a divine appointment with our Creator. Every person will acknowledge the one true God and recognize His sovereignty. God alone is qualified to be the supreme Judge, with complete and universal dominion over all. We will know that He alone is qualified to be the supreme Judge.
The Ultimate Judgment: What Awaits After Death?
“…but after this, the judgment” – Hebrews 9:27b
- After giving an account of our lives to God, He will judge us. The omniscient God, who knows every action and thought, will determine our eternal fate. There will be no need for debate or a defense—His judgment will be perfect and just.
Heaven or Hell: The Eternal Consequences of God’s Judgment
- “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. – Matthew 25:34
- “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. – Matthew 25:41
- For those who have trusted in Jesus Christ: Heaven awaits. Eternal life in a place without sickness, death, pain, or sin—where we will be in the presence of God. We cannot fully comprehend how wonderful heaven will be, but we know it will be glorious! You shouldn’t feel lost in this outcome.
- For those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ: Hell awaits. Eternal death. The Bible describes hell as a place of “eternal fire,” “shame and everlasting contempt,” and “torment.” It is a place of unimaginable suffering. For these reasons you do not want to go to hell. It is a terrible place!
How to Secure Your Eternal Destiny: Trusting in Christ for Salvation
Perhaps the most direct answer comes from Jesus Himself:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live.” –John 11:25
Those who place their trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ will spend eternity with God in heaven. If you still feel lost, I encourage you to read through the articles on this site. Many of them discuss what you need to do to enter heaven. I spent considerable time assembling these resources, and they faithfully reflect the message God has given us in the Holy Bible.
Related content: The wonderful Jesus the Christ
AI did not write this article but assisted with proofreading.