Man's Eternal Destiny

In the book of Job, the writer asked, “If a man die, shall he live again? The writer continued, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14 KJV). In the NIV version the same verse is translated, “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.”

In a simpler and more understandable translation, the writer is asking, “When a man dies, shall he resurrect? I will wait for my resurrection.”

The Lord Jesus Christ (God in person or in the flesh [John 1:14]) manifested to us his own example. He was 100% human, so he died like any man. The Scripture says, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Heb. 9:27 NIV). When a man dies, unlike the animals, his spirit goes upward to his creator (God) to be judged (Ecclesiastes 3:21; 12:7 NIV). Those who have done good, that is, whose sins are forgiven because they confessed, believed and accepted Jesus Christ as their only Lord and Savior, and have repented of their sins, will be resurrected into the resurrection of life. Thus, our Lord Jesus said: “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29 NIV). But before this, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God (Jesus Christ) and those who hear will live” (John 5:25 NIV).

The Word “BELIEVED” is significant in that it must not be only in thoughts and in words but must be evidenced by deeds. It is equivalent to saving FAITH which the Bible defines, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1 NIV). In other words, we are yet hoping for God’s promise of resurrection to happen. We have not yet seen or experienced it, but we are sure and certain that it shall come to pass because whatever and whenever God/Jesus makes a promise, 100% it shall come to pass. Thus, Jesus promised to his disciples (also to all believers, as these too are equally his disciples) that:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms (mansions KJV), if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4 NIV).

The Apostle Thomas asked the Lord Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (to where you are going [John 14:5] NIV). The Lord Jesus replied: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). In Tagalog (Filipino national language) “Magdaan ka muna kay Jesu Kristo.” The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ, nobody else.

Where is His Father’s place? Of course, in HEAVEN. In other words, no one goes to heaven unless he repents from all his sins and believes and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his only LORD and SAVIOR. For this matter, the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). This is the only rule without exception. And the Bible further says, “For by grace (gracia sa Diyos) are ye saved through faith (in Jesus Christ) and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV).

The Bible further says, those who believed will have eternal life in heaven, but those who do not believe are already condemned, and are destined to go to hell. There is no middle ground. Either one goes to heaven or to hell. This theology is proved by the parable of the rich man and Lazarus related by Jesus Christ himself as follows:

¹⁹ “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰ At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side (in heaven). The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ In Hades (or hell), where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

²⁵ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm (or gulf KJV) has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

²⁷ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸ for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets (the Bible or Word of God); let them listen to them.’

³⁰ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets (or Word of God), they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31 NIV)

In verse 26, among all other lessons from this earthly story with heavenly meaning personally related by our Lord Jesus Christ, between heaven and hell “a great chasm (or great gulf) has been fixed so that those who want to go from here (heaven where Abraham and the beggar were) to you (hell where the rich man was in torment) cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there (hell) to us (heaven).” Worded differently, once in heaven, one will be forever in heaven; so with one who unfortunately goes to hell. There is no middle station before going to heaven. One goes to either place immediately. This is the written eternal destiny of men, and the preparation is done here on earth while one is still alive. After death will be too late - the situation can no longer be reversed. Man goes either to heaven or hell, and the choice belongs to man.