Pastoral Letters

Where Will You Go after You Die?

November 7, 2021 Author:Pastor Andrew Tan
Where will you go after you die? “I’m still young. This question is not for me.” You mean you are very sure you will not die tomorrow or one week later? Surely you have heard of young people who died suddenly, people who were healthy. Over the last few years, we often hear of young healthy people who collapsed and died. “It won’t be me.” Why are you so sure? No, the fact is, you have no reason to be sure you will not die tomorrow or next week. It can happen to you and me. “Please don’t bother me with such questions. I don’t have time to think about it.” You mean, just because you don’t want to think about death, death will not come to you and come suddenly? What you really mean is, this question is not important to you, and hence you don’t want to think about it. The fact is, this question is important to you. If three strong men were to grab hold of you, push you into a van, and drive you somewhere, surely, you would be frightened. You would ask: “Who are you? Where are you taking me to?” Death is like this too. Death will come and grab hold of you. You cannot resist death. Death will take you somewhere. The question is: WHERE?

No human being can give you answer. Only God has the answer. Where are you going after you die? The amazingly accurate word of God, the Holy Bible (as evidenced by lots of historical, archaeological evidence,etc.,including fulfillment of many prophecies), says: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). You will be judged for your sins. God who knows everything remembers every sin you have committed, be it in thought, word, or deed. There is no such thing as God ignores a sin you committed. Anyone who commits even one sin (and we have committed thousands and thousands of sins, and daily!) will enter hell without any hope of being released from hell: “They will be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thess 1:9); “throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 13:50).

Dear non-Christian friend, this is why you must believe in Jesus. Jesus loves you infinitely. He has died for your sins: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Pet 3:18). Praise the Lord. Jesus has taken the punishment in your place. At the moment you sincerely ask Jesus to be your Saviour and the Lord of your life, Jesus will forgive and wash away all your sins, sins past, present, and future. Jesus will give you eternal life and the sure hope of heaven. Hence, we do not need to fear death anymore: “Do not let your hearts be troubled . . . My Father’s house has many rooms . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you . . . I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3); “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). Leaving the physical body means immediately being with Jesus.

Dear Christian, why must you preach the gospel? Why is this task so urgent and important? Because if anyone dies and this person does not believe in Jesus, this person will be tormented in hell forever. You must share the gospel with people you care about. Do not wait. The task is urgent. Do not let them die in hell. Start praying. Invite them for Christmas gospel Sunday on 19 December 2021. If the Covid situation gets better, we hope to hold it also on 28 November 2021. The choir will present a song. Also, two persons will share his/her testimony of salvation in Chinese and English. But you must start praying and inviting. Pray for the speaker, choir, those giving testimonies. Above all, pray and invite new friends.