After the End for Christians

I frequently find myself reminding patients I see in the emergency room of what they have to live for. Many of my patients have lived tragic, unrewarding lives and believe terminating their physical body will relieve them of their hurt and pain. Preparing this article has transformed my thinking. Rather than remind them of what they might have to live for, I should instead remind them they have nothing to die for. They will perish, and far from removing their pain, will have to endure an eternity of weeping. Christians, however, have nothing to "live for" in this sense and everything to die for. We know we are but sojourners (I Peter 1:17-19) on this physical earth and our reward awaits us and is being held secure for us by Christ on the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-4, I Peter 1:4).

What has God revealed to us about our fate after we die? We are given three discourses on this subject by three different apostles. The apostle John was given a glimpse of Heaven and revealed this to us in the book of Revelation. While Revelation is highly symbolic, Christians can still understand the message that Christ has already conquered Satan and He will return shortly to gather His saints together (Revelation 22:6-13). John was so affected he fell down and worshiped at the feet of the angel who showed him the vision. His final comment to the Lord's words: "surely I come quickly", were "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). After seeing what was to be, John was ready and willing for it to happen and encouraged the Lord to carry out His promise.

Peter's discussion of our fate is different in that he looks forward to the coming of Christ as the time when all shall be revealed. Peter states that our salvation is protected by our faith (I Peter 1:5). This salvation, eternal life with God, will be revealed to us in the last time, Christ's second coming. He affirms that though we have not seen Christ, we love Him, and though He is not among us physically, we believe in Him (I Peter 1:8). This love and belief is cause for inexpressible joy, for as a result of this he says you will "obtain as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (I Peter 1:9). This salvation was something even the prophets were not able to see and, in fact, angels longed to look into (I Peter 1:10-12).

Finally, perhaps Paul's account is the most specific. Paul, himself, when discussing the choice of remaining here on this earth said it was "far better" to depart and be with Christ (Phillipians 1:23). How did he know this? From the second letter to the Corinthians we read an interesting account (II Corinthians 12:2-10). A man (from the context we know this is Paul) is taken up into that part of Heaven known as Paradise (this is the same word used in Luke 23:43 by Christ when He told the thief that "today you will be with me in Paradise."). Paul saw where Christ went after His crucifixion. It was so vivid an experience he couldn't tell if he was still in his physical body or out. There he heard such glorious words that a mortal man is not capable of expressing and in fact words that a man is not allowed to speak (II Corinthians 12:4). The revelation was so magnificent that God gave him a physical ailment to keep him humble (II Corinthians 12:7). Paul knew that it was better to be with Christ in Heaven because he had seen the glories of Heaven! What awaits us in Heaven is so splendid that apparently it is not good to know about it while still on earth.

Christians can rejoice in the assurance of our fate. The reeward for living a righteous life while on the earth is unimaginable. John symbolically describes its glory and encourages the Lord to come quickly. Peter tells us that prophets and angels were not able to see into salvation and the "glories to follow" (I Peter 1:11) but that it is reserved in Heaven for us through our faith. Paul saw and heard things that were so marvelous he was not allowed to reveal them and in fact suffered physically for seeing them himself.

Truly, we have a lot to die for. Peter places the correct interpretation on earthly tribulation in I Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Amen.