What Happens After We Die, and How Should That Change the Way I Live Right Now?| Ask A Pastor Ep. 13

What really happens after we die? It's one of the oldest and most important questions humanity has ever asked. Whether prompted by loss, illness, tragedy, or simply the reality of our own mortality, every person eventually wrestles with what comes next.

In this episode of Ask A Pastor, we explore what the Bible teaches about eternity, heaven, judgment, and the hope we have because of Jesus Christ. Rather than relying on speculation or popular opinion, we look at the promises of Scripture and the resurrection of Jesus—the foundation of the Christian's hope.

Together, we'll answer questions like:

• What happens when we die?
• Is heaven a real place?
• Will everyone stand before God?
• Why does eternity matter for the way we live today?
• How does the gospel change our future and our present?

You'll discover that death is not the end for those who trust in Christ, that heaven is ultimately about being with Jesus, and that an eternal perspective transforms our priorities, relationships, and purpose today.

Most importantly, we'll consider the question that matters more than what happens after we die: What have we done with Jesus?

If you've ever wondered about eternity or needed encouragement to live with greater purpose and hope, this conversation is for you.

Key Scriptures: John 11, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, Matthew 25, John 14, Revelation 21, Colossians 3, Matthew 6, Philippians 1, and John 3:16.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Like I wanted to answer, especially coming off the hiatus that I took, uh, was what happens after we die? And how should that change the way we live right now? Uh, I think this question is one of the oldest and most important questions that humanity asks. Uh, and we usually ask it uh in funerals, and we usually ask it uh after tragedy. And uh, you know, or we are confronted with our own more mortality. You know, sometimes during these these times of funerals and these times of of loss, we're we're confronted with the fact that, you know, we're not going to be here forever. Uh, and every worldview has to answer this question, you know, what happens after death? As Christians, our hope is not based on speculation, but our hope is based on the fact that Jesus died and he rose again. So he had victory over death. So the big idea today is what you believe about eternity will determine how you live today. I I think really how we live our lives is what will determine our eternity. And I I've got some points and I've got a lot of scripture for you today. Um, I will never apologize for having a lot of scripture because I think that's what should uh dictate our lives. But just a heads up, got a lot of scripture for you today. Uh, it's in the show notes. So if you'd like to go back and read it for yourself, you can. Uh, but my point number one today is death is not the end because Jesus defeated death. Uh some scriptures that talk about this is John 11, 25 through 26. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. And he asked her, Do you believe this? First Corinthians fifteen, twelve says, Now if Christ is proclaimed as a raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? First Corinthians fifteen twenty through twenty-two says, But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, for as by man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as Adam all die, but also in Christ shall all be made alive. First Corinthians fifteen, fifty-six says, The sting of death is sin, the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. First Thessaloni for me to say, huh? First Thessalonians four, thirteen through eighteen says, But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, but have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring him uh bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare you by the word of f from the Lord, that you who are alive, you are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry, with a command, with the voice of an archangel and the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive for our left will be caught together in the clouds and the Lord with the air. So also will be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with words. So, some points from these scriptures. The Old Testament gives only a partial glimpse of the afterlife, but the New Testament brings clarity through the words of Jesus and some of the words we've just read that uh that that there is hope after death. Death entered into the world through Adam, but resurrection from the dead came through Jesus. Because Jesus rose, believers have hope beyond the grave. Christians grieve, but not without hope. And that's what we have to understand today, that that we as Christians, we we grieve. Uh, we can grieve the loss of those. You know, and I I talked about my my grandmother past. I grieve the loss. I will miss my grandmother, but I don't mourn because I have no hope. I mourn because I'm gonna miss her on this earth. I know that one day I will be united together with her uh with the Lord Jesus. Because death for the believer is not a wall, it's a doorway. Uh, it's just I'm just telling her, one day I will see you again. It's not goodbye, it's I'll see you again. Because for the Christian, death is not the end of life, it's the beginning of life as it always was meant to be. Ultimately, we are we have a great life to come, and that is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But we have to live that life here on earth. The second fact that we have to face when it comes to death is that every person will stand before God. Every person will stand before God. Matthew 25, 31 through 34 says, When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels come with him, then he will sit on the glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will be separated from one from another as she as shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and and he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew twenty-five, forty-one says, Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. And in forty-six he says, And these will go away into eternal punishment and in eternal, and but the righteous into eternal life. There is a separation between the two. Notice he separates those who don't believe to between those who believe. Second Corinthians 5 10 says, For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that one may receive what is due for what he has done with his body, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12, 13 through 14 says, The end of the matter all has been heard. For fear God and keep his commands for the whole duty of man, for God will bring every deed into judgment, the with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Here's the point: every human will experience eternity. Every person will stand before God one day. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. Our works, what we do, we cannot be a good enough person to save us. How we live for God matters. So there's areas of God that God cares about. God cares about stewardship, how we stewarded the things that he gave us, our finances, our time, um, you know, the gifts that he gave us. God cares about how we steward those. He cares about our obedience. Have we practiced what he called us to do? He cares about our faithfulness. Have we been faithful to follow the things that he has called to do? God cares about our treatment of others. Do we love other people? And God also, I believe, cares for how we care for those who cannot care for themselves, how we care for the vulnerable. Because you're not living for the applause of earth, you're living for the approval of heaven. Because one day we will all have to stand before God and give an account on what we've done with our life. And we will have to say whether we did good for him or whether we did things for ourselves. And unfortunately, at that time, it will be too late to live a life for him. The third thing we have to face today is that heaven is about a person more than a place. Heaven is about a person more than a place. John 14, one through three says, Let not your truly your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house, there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have not told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and I will take you to myself that you may be there with me also. Revelation 21, 1 through 4 says, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and a sea was no more. And I saw a holy city, New Jerusalem, come, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. And God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And lastly, for this point, first John 3, 2 through 3 says, Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that what he what he appears, we shall be like him, because he shall uh he shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes him purifies himself as he is pure. Here's what we've got to take from those verses. Heaven is a real place, heaven's a real place, and Jesus is preparing this place for all believers. And here's what we have to understand that uh heaven as we know it, this Revelation 21 describes it that God will establish his kingdom here on this earth. Those that go before us are in a place of waiting, uh, and and they will once again uh be on this earth with us. But, you know, Jesus is preparing a place for all believers. Jesus told us that he is going to prepare a place for all of us. The greatest reward uh of heaven is not the streets of gold, mansions, freedom from suffering. The greatest reward in heaven is that we will be with Jesus Himself. One day we will be face to face with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because Christianity is not merely about escaping hell. Here's the thing: nobody wants to go to hell, but not wanting to go to hell gets you to heaven. Christianity is about a relationship with God both now and forever. What you have to understand is that God has given us free will, and he cannot force us to choose him. And so if you live your life wanting nothing to do with God, then why will he force you to spend eternity with him? That's what you have to understand. And so if you want to live a life, a life apart from God, you don't get to live a life with a life after with him because you never live. God's not going to force you to be with him. If heaven exists, or if heaven excites you more than Jesus, you've misunderstood heaven. If heaven excites you more than Jesus does, you've misunderstood heaven. Because heaven is all about being with Jesus. Heaven is all about being with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The fourth point today: believing in eternity should change how you live today. How you believe, you how you believe in eternity. If you believe that there is a heaven, it should change the way you live today. Colossians 3, 1 through 4 says, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on this earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you are will also appear with him in glory. Matthew 6, 19 through 21, do not lay up yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth nor roy rust to destroy, where thieves can break in and steal, but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Philippians 1, 21 through 23 says, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I say which which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to part and to be with Christ, for that is far better. The big point is that eternal perspective changes your earthly priorities. Your eternal perspective changes your earthly priorities. So today I wanted to talk to you about in this point, in this fourth point, I want you to talk about four practical applications. How can we live for God here on this earth? Number one, reorient it your priorities, restructure your priorities. Ask yourself, does this matter in eternity? Am I investing in things that will last? Because guys, listen, the only thing that you can invest in on this earth that will last is souls. And so if you, if God has graced you with a lot of money, if you're not investing it in the church, if you're not investing it in missions, uh, then that's not going to last. Everything else will be thrown away and moss and rust will destroy. Stop living for instant gratification. Stop living to gratify yourself. Stop living or start start what God wants us to do is start living for eternal significance. Start living a life that is with God and for God and prepare yourself to be with God. The second practical advocation is prepare spiritually. Pray, read scripture, repent, be filled with the Holy Spirit, live expectantly for Christ's return. That's what God calls believers to do. Three, steward your gift and your resources. Your talent matters. Use the talents that God has given you for Jesus. Your time matters. Give the Lord a portion of your tithe. Serve your church, serve uh those around you. Three, give your money to God. I will always say and I I will always preach it. The first thing you should give is to your church, the local church that you're a part of. And if you're not a part of a local church, get to be a part of a local church and let when you get when that paycheck hits your bank account, let the first thing be to giving to God. Because God, if God truly matters the most to you, giving to him first is what should truly matter. And your service matters, who you serve. The Bible tells us we will you see with your time whom you serve. And the last practical thing that you could do is care for people. Every person, every person that you can look into their eyes, God cares about. How we treat the poor, how we treat the sick, how we treat the marginalized, how we treat the same the stranger reflects our eternal values. Because listen, when we all get to heaven, we are all going to be in the same standing. So how we treat those that are less fortunate of us really do matter. People who believe in eternity, stop living for moments and start living for meaning. Stop living for the moments in your life and start living for meaning. So the fifth point that I want to make to you today is the gospel is the only hope for eternity. The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ is the only hope that we have in eternity. The real question isn't what happens after we die. The real question is what have you done for Jesus? I want you to ask yourself that. Don't ask yourself where what happens when I die? Don't ask myself, I don't ask yourself, you know, what what happens? The reason I know that my grandmother is in heaven, and I have no doubt in my mind, the reason I know that is because she lived a life for Jesus. Everything about her was about Jesus. Now, was she a perfect lady? No. Did she make mistakes? Absolutely. Did she do some things wrong? Of course. But her sole purpose in life was to live a life that was pleasing to God. Because here's the thing we've all sinned. We all deserve judgment, but we cannot save ourselves. Jesus lived the life that we couldn't live. He died the death that we deserved, and he rose again, defeating death and hell. And salvation is only available to those who repent and believe in Jesus. Philippians 1 21 says, For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. John 3.16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Before Jesus defeated death, even death itself becomes gain. Because I'm sorry, I said that wrong. Because Jesus defeated death, even death itself is gain. As a Christian, we know that death means we get our eternal reward. That's why Paul can say to live is Christ and to die is gain. So here's three questions that I want to ask, want you to ask yourself today. Number one, if you died tonight, are you certain that you would spend eternity with Jesus? If the question is, I'm not sure, Pastor, then I would encourage you, now is the time to start living your life for Jesus. Best place to start, pick up your Bible and get your hind parts into a local church that can love you, disciple you well, and move you towards Jesus. The second question I want you to ask yourself is are you investing your life into things that will actually last forever? What did I tell you? What's what's the one thing that lasts forever? The souls that we invest in, missions, the church. That's one thing that will actually, actually two things that will last forever. Number three, if Jesus returned today, would he find you faithfully living for him? If the answer to that question is no, today is your day to start that. Because one day there's gonna be a group of people that stand up and talk about your life. And are they gonna get up and be able to say that you lived your life for Jesus? Or are they gonna be left with the question, are they in heaven? I don't really know because they didn't live their life for God. So some final thoughts. Are you going to live forever somewhere? The question is not whether eternity exists. You're gonna live together, you're gonna live somewhere forever. The question is whether you trusted the one who conquered death. And so live for Jesus today. Live to love on people, pursue holiness, serve faithfully, give faithfully, share the gospel, live today in light of eternity. And here's the great challenge that I have for you today. It's never too late. We serve a God that loves us. We serve a God that says, Your past is your past. If you live from this day on to the day that you live, if you live it for Jesus, I truly believe that you will be with me in heaven one day for sure. Thanks for joining me with me today on Ask a Pastor, uh, answering an age-old question. So good to be with you. Sorry I missed last week. Uh, I hope you understand. Uh, but it was great. Episode 13, lucky number 13 coming your way. Uh, if you enjoyed it, please give us a share. Uh, this is the ministry of Hope Church in Cleburn. Uh, and so if you would like to support the show, you can give to Hope Church in Cleburn. That's what funds this show. And if you don't have a local body to be a part of, uh, we would love to have you. We currently have two locations, one in Meridian, Texas. They meet at 10 30, and we have our main location in Cleburn. We meet at 9 30 and 11 on Sunday mornings. So if you don't have a local church, we would love to have you a part of that. But hey, thanks for watching, and we will see you next time on Ask a Pastor.