When one’s last breath is drawn, eternity begins. What is ahead? What is certain and what does the word of God say? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1561/29?v=20251111
Worldwide, friends, statistics show just about two people die per second. You know, James does say life is but a vapor. But after this life, well, what then, friends? Sobering but certain, and most worthy of our study today from the International Gospel Hour, please stay with us.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, thank you, J-Web, for your kind words and greetings to all of you.
SPEAKER 01 :
How blessed we are to turn to the Bible, God’s inspired and errant word that is absolute truth and our final authority in all matters. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, Matthew 7, 28 and 29 said how the people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. It was Peter in Acts 3, 22 and 23, when he and John were standing before those governing authorities, to where Peter, through inspiration, spoke about Moses, who said that the Lord would raise up a prophet, like unto him you should hear in all things, and that prophet, of course, Jesus Christ, as Peter brought forth in Acts 3, 22 and 23. You know, friends, we’re thankful for the Bible, the final authority, which is our tool for study here at the International Gospel Hour. Let’s take the Bible today and let’s consider something, how time indeed goes very quickly. And you know, friends, changes are always inevitable, but how grateful we are for the certainty of Jesus Christ… In Hebrews 13, in verse 8, when the Hebrew writer said, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. And for the scripture that, according to Peter, in 1 Peter 1, verse 23, how thankful we are for the word of God, which lives and abides forever. So I want to make certain that after this life, I want to be with Christ forever. And I have the assurance through His word that I can abide with Him now and forever. But you know, friends, forever is not here. So what’s after this life? Let’s think about those things today from God’s Word. I’ll be back in around 30 seconds. But now, a few words from our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Since 1934, the International Gospel Hour has been heard over the radio. We are one of the longest-running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are very blessed to continue over the air through gracious giving of congregations of Churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. We appreciate you listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
So friends, let’s begin asking, what’s after this life? Answer one, death. In Ecclesiastes 8 and verse 8, no one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it. And in Hebrews 9, 27, it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment. Have a good preacher friend by the name of Mark Posey. I want you to consider this thought that he brought forth thinking about this. He said the living God made man as a living being, Genesis 2-7, with the intention that he should live forever in fellowship with his maker. But when sin entered, so did death, Genesis 2-17, Romans 5-12. Therefore man became a dying creature, in need of salvation. And with death, my friends, you know, God already had the eternal purpose in Christ already. Ephesians 3, verses 9 through 12. He loved the world, and that He sent Jesus to die for us. John 3, verse 16. Again, a certainty of which one should be prepared. Again, folks, the average two people die per second. We need to be prepared for death. Number two, what’s after this life? Well, let’s consider the judgment of God. Again, we state Hebrews 9, 27, And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 10 teaches clearly that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Timothy 4 and verse 1 reminds us how before the Lord Jesus Christ that He shall judge the living and the dead. So if we are living at the time of the return of Christ, we will stand before judgment and His judgment. In Matthew 25 verses 31 and following, it tells us of the final judgment, a separation of the sheep from the goats. This is a certainty, dear friend. And one should be prepared before death with the judgment one day to follow. And preparation for the judgment is of necessity. For judgment is a certainty. Would you consider with me number three. What’s after this life? Well, how about separation? Now back to Matthew 25, 31 and following. There is a judgment that will separate the wicked from the righteous. And we think about the parable of the tares and the wheat from Matthew 13, 24-30. How Jesus uses the parable to instruct that in this world we do have good and evil. But one day there will be that separation. And that, of course, is at the judgment day. Once again, friends, this certainty pleads for preparation. Indeed, it does. This certainty pleads for preparation, for us to be prepared to meet the Lord. I also think along that same line of death as a separation to, we mentioned death earlier, that we are separated from this life, separated from our loved ones who will miss us. And we need to think that when we pass from this life, have we made the preparation to help them? Most importantly, have we made the preparation to help ourselves? What’s after this life? Well, we know death, judgment, and separation. But what about the final reward? Again, where there is death, judgment, and separation, there remains a final reward. And there is not much of a reward for the wicked anymore. as they are condemned to eternal torment in hell, Revelation 20, 14 and 15. But God indeed has a beautiful reward laid up for the faithful Christian. We note in John 14, verses 1 through 6, when Jesus made the promise that He would go and prepare a place for us, that where He would be, He would come and take us with Him. And we’re reminded in John 14, 6, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In Revelation 21, verses 1 through 4, the Bible also reminds us of the beauty of heaven and how there will be no tears, no suffering, no more heartache, and how Paul in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 8 made it very clear. He said, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing. What’s after this life, friends? Well, death, judgment, separation, the final reward. And you know, in an earlier broadcast, we talked about some certainties that on this earth and what will come one day. The exposure of sin that’s not repented of. Leaving earthly possessions and harvest time or what we sow we indeed will reap. And folks, when we think about that, all of that ties in with what we’ve talked about today. So friends, the conclusion of our study is we want to be prepared with after this life. And the old hymn, Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All, says, After this life, with all its strife, heaven will surely be worth it all. And friends, it will be. And I’d like for you and I to consider preparing for our lives and making sure that we are prepared through a study of God’s Word and understanding the will for our lives. We’d love to send you the free God and Man Bible Study. It’s available in either online or by booklet that we can send, and our J-Web will explain those details.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
And friends, let me also add, I’m indebted, and I mentioned him earlier in this broadcast, to my friend and brother Mark Posey. Some time back, Mark shared an outline called Seven Sobering Certainties. And we shared four of those with you today. An earlier broadcast called Some Things That Are Certain. We dealt with the other three. So if we can be of help to you or you’d like to listen to those broadcasts, they are always available on our website at internationalgospelhour.com. This broadcast, What’s After This Life? The previous broadcast, Some Things That Are Certain. So if we can be of help to you and you wanting to hear those again, please let us know. But for now, I want to thank you for the opportunity to study with you today. It has been a great joy to spend time with you in this broadcast. And again, if we can be of help to you, just simply call us at 855-444-6988 and let us know. If there’s nothing that we’ve offered today that you want to receive, if you would not mind, just give us a call and let us know where you’re listening to our broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for your time. And thank you that we could study the Word of God together. And again, I appreciate you joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
