Where Will You Spend Eternity?
By Ron Boatwright
Our eternal salvation is the most important thing in this life. It doesn’t matter what we have accomplished if we lose our souls in Hell; we lose it all. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Nothing in this world is worth losing our soul over. This life is very short. "It is even as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).
In eternity we will be placed in only one of two possible places: Heaven or Hell. Heaven is so wonderful, we can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like but Jesus says, "there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14). Heaven is described by our Lord as containing many mansions (John 14:1-3). In Revelation 21:4, we read, "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Hell is so terrible that we cannot comprehend how horrible the torment will be with the continual weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). Jesus says "there are many who go in by it (Matthew 7:14). Those who go there will be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone…and they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). Then in Revelation 20:15 we are warned, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." The person who ends up in Hell will only have himself to blame.
Both Heaven and Hell will last forever and ever (Matthew 25:46). Both are eternal and everlasting. The vast majority of people are living their lives as though they don’t believe there is going to be an eternity. Satan has lulled people into a state of complacency. Let’s make sure that we avoid Hell and that we go to Heaven. We must be "even more diligent to make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10).