Vol. 4, #5 Feb. 20, 2004

If You Were To Die Tonight…

Written By Christopher Mentzer

Back in my hometown, while I still lived there, the only church people to go door knocking were Jehovah’s Witness. I recall one such visit when I answered the door and these two girls began their conversation with me. The one question they asked that has stuck with me to this day was: If you were to die tonight, where would you go? At the time my answer was Heaven. They asked me why? I responded that it was because I went to church every week. And of course, I’m thinking to myself, why would I say I was going to Hell? From there they proceeded to quote scripture to me though I don’t recall what they were reading but I do remember that they would start reading and suddenly stop and quickly turn over to a different verse to connect it. Although I didn’t know much of the Bible, I was very suspicious of the way they were trying to connect things. The visit ended abruptly when my father appeared at the door complaining I was letting in the cold air, he mumbled to the girls we go to church and then closed the door.

The question, however, remained with me but I made no attempt to find an answer since they weren’t the same denomination as my family. Eventually, after I became a Christian and started studying the bible, that I found the answer to the question.

In Luke 16: 19-31, Jesus relates a story of The Rich Man and Lazarus and their destination after they died. The place wasn’t heaven nor was it hell but more of a stopover, if you will, between Life and Judgment. This area is referred to as Hades, Sheol, The Land of the Dead, and other names. It’s almost like a giant waiting room with two sides to it. One side is looked upon as paradise where those rest in Abraham’s bosom (vs. 22). The other side is looked upon as torment (vs. 23). Between both of these places, there is a great gulf fixed which is impassable (vs. 26). The American Heritage Dictionary defines ‘gulf’ as: A large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land, especially a long landlocked portion of sea opening through a strait. 2. A deep, wide chasm; an abyss. This is the place one would go when they die. As to which side, depends on how one person lived their life.

Some people disregard this story by Jesus as being nothing more than a parable. However, the scriptures do not make reference to it as being one. And even if this were simply a parable, the outcome would most likely be similar. In every parable that Jesus spoke, he used every day situations to make his point.

Jesus knew the place was real for he mentioned it one more time while he hung on the cross. In Luke 23: 42-43 Jesus and one of the thieves had this to say: “And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 43. And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” Did Jesus mean Heaven? No, of course not! He wouldn’t ascend into Heaven until after he had been resurrected. In the meantime, though, both Jesus and the thief would be going somewhere until it was time for Christ’s resurrection. The only logical conclusion would be Hades as described in Luke 16.

Now I pose the question to the reader: If you were to die tonight, where would you go? The opportunity to avoid the torment side of Hades comes while you are still alive. Remember, the gulf is impassable and once you are dead, your fate is sealed forever. Do what God wants you to do. Whether it be obeying the gospel and becoming a Christian or, as a Christian, repenting of your sins and returning to the Lord. The decision is yours.