I recently attended a funeral for my grandmother Reba Hardy, which made me reflect on death itself. Like most people, death is not something I think about often, but I wanted to share a few thoughts from that time of reflection. I realized many people have very different feelings when someone passes away, depending on whether you believe death is the end or a new beginning. While I was sad at my grandma’s funeral, I know she trusted that Jesus took her sins, which was essential because we all have messed up and need a savior. This truth found in our savior moved me to a position of hope and gratitude more than a position of sadness. At the same time, I know not everyone has the same belief and hasn’t given their sins over to Jesus. In this case, the season for weeping is permanent because they will eternally suffer. 

Many people will say, well Matt, you shouldn’t have such a narrow perspective. Why would God let someone be eternally separated from himself in Hell? God doesn’t send anyone to Hell; He made a way for all to come into the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus. But again, if God is good, and He is the ruler of all things and He made the rules, why can’t He just let everyone in? First, I need to point out part of that question, He is a GOOD God meaning that He is set apart and can’t be in the presence of anything not 100% good or holy, so that means He couldn’t just let everyone in because, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 23) So, we all need somewhere to put our sins, and I’m here to tell you that Jesus is the only option. He loves you so dearly and is asking to take that on for you. All you need to do is, “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Maybe you don’t believe that Heaven and Hell are real at all and there isn’t a God, so why bother with following Jesus? My question to you is, what if you’re wrong? How much thought have you given to the most important question you could ever answer? If you ask that question and don’t stop until you have a legitimate answer, I guarantee your answer will be Jesus every time. Countless atheists have done that very thing and are much smarter than you and I. People like Lee Strobel and Antony Flew are examples, and Antony Flew was among the most influential of them. 

I am not saying to take my word for this. I am just hoping to send you on your own path of discovery because it is the most critical question you will ever answer. Many people give more thought and research to a paper for a class that won’t matter in a few months than thinking is God real, and do I believe who He says He is? If you are asking where to start along this journey, a good place to start is by listening to this message “Is Belief In God Reasonable?” Here is a link to it on Spotify and here it is on Apple Podcast.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in your journey in any way.