A Million Years from Now
| Former Beatle George Harrison said in an interview, “There is nothing more important than finding out what is after death. What happens to us after we die?” A million years from now, where will you be? What about 150 years from now, where will you be? Believers in Christ know what happens to them after they die. II Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” When a believer dies, their soul and spirit goes directly into the presence of the Lord to await the resurrection. (I Corinthians 15) |
George Harrison wrote a big solo hit entitled, “My Sweet Lord”. The only problem was that his lord was a Hindu god. Only the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead and could give this promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:17-27) That is an incredible statement! Either Jesus Christ was a liar, a lunatic, or he was who he claimed to be – the Son of the Living God! His death on the cross for the sins of the world and his resurrection gained him the victory over death, hell, and the grave. (I Corinthians 15:12-28)
There is a famous western town called Tombstone, AZ. Many people were gunned down in the old Wild West and have a tombstone marking the end of their earthly journey. What are the three most common markings found on a tombstone? The person’s name, their date of birth, and their date of death are engraved on the tombstone. I can guarantee that you will be dead a whole lot longer than you will ever be alive. Since that’s true, shouldn’t we be searching out what is on the other side instead of searching out things down here that are only temporary? Because you will be there a whole lot longer than you will be here on earth.
A million years from now or a 150 years from now will it matter what kind of car you drove, what college you went to, or if you played in the final four? No! The most important thing is whether you know the God who created you and the Savior who died on the cross for you because you will be in one of two destinations forever and ever and ever. Eternity is a very long, long time. Make sure you’ve got the right answer. Job said, “For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return” (Job 16:22). But Job also had this hope, “For I know that my Redeemer lives and He shall stand at last on earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold and no another” (Job 19:25-26). What fabulous declaration. Do you have that hope? The last verse of John Newton’s Amazing Grace says, “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun.”
A religious leader came to Jesus at night seeking answers to his life. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Most assuredly I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Just as we were born of the flesh we must have a second birth – of the Spirit of God. You can have the assurance of eternal life.
A - Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
by: Cliff Sanders