“What is there after this life?” That is truly the biggest question. How strange that we should try so hard to push it out of our minds — to concentrate on today, tomorrow, even something in the dim and distant future — all transient things and experiences ahead of us. But the future we can be sure and certain of we ignore and avoid and postpone until “tomorrow.”
We feel we have today, at least, so that important question can wait until tomorrow. But are you sure of tomorrow? Or even of today?
A United Nations representative was working at his desk on the third floor of a hotel in Haiti. Everything seemed calm and “everyday,” nothing out of the ordinary, when he felt a “little tremor.” Four seconds later (only four seconds!) an earthquake hit. “In a split second” he ducked under his desk.
Around him there was only chaos as walls and ceilings and upper stories of the building crashed around him. Under the desk he was safe but trapped: trapped for five long days and nights.
What were his thoughts as he lay almost helpless in the huge pile of debris? He thought of loved ones, thought of things he would like to do — if he survived. As hope began to fade: “Would he soon go into a coma and die?” Finally he was face to face with the question: WHAT IS THERE AFTER THIS LIFE?
He did not know!
At last he began to hear human voices and knew that they were struggling to reach and free him. Although thousands around him were dead, he had been given a rare chance to live and to find the answer to that great question.
God Himself has given the answer: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). What comes after the judgment?
But what of those who are not looking forward to His second coming — those who did not receive or believe Him? “He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)).