Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Which Way Are You Going?

Tombstones tell great stories. One such cemetery had a tombstone that read, “Pause now, stranger as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so soon you’ll be. Prepare yourself to follow me!” Someone had placed a piece of wood next to the tombstone, “To follow you, I’m not content until I know which way you went.”

One of the certainties of death is it comes with direction. In other words, death sends an eternal spirit in one of two paths. To believe that death is final and nothing after death is a fool’s errand of eternal consequence. God did not create a world and form man from the dust of the ground for no reason. The nature of man declares he is an eternal creature demanding the acceptance there is something more to death than emptiness. Everything known about the unknown is revealed in the word of God. God created man in His image for His glory. The justice of the Lord demands judgment on the actions of men. If there were nothing beyond death, man would debase himself to be nothing but an animal.

Eternity is real because man is a creature formed to live forever. The purpose of creation was to form a creature that would worship Him and magnify the glory of an eternal God. Humanity is the highest of God’s creation because he is eternal. Jesus Christ came to save the world from the darkness of eternal condemnation. When the creation denies the power of his Creator, there must be consequences. God is not willing that any should suffer condemnation, but His righteousness demands justice against all that deny Him. What kind of God would He be if the Creator ignored the arrogance and pride of human wisdom? Righteousness demands accountability.

There are two paths after death. The Bible describes one place as the bosom of Abraham, indicating peace and comfort. For those who angels do not carry to Paradise, a terrible and horrific place exists. It is a place of torment, flame, darkness, suffering, agony, and eternal horror. That is the only choice given. Denying there is a place of torment does not take away its reality. Most people refuse to believe in Hell. Their belief will be changed when they experience its reality. God is a loving God but also a God of wrath.

He saved Noah and his family and destroyed everything with the breath of life outside the ark. How many millions of souls perished in the flood should be a question that drives the heart to believe in God’s judgment against unrighteousness. Jesus offers salvation through His blood. God’s love gave us His Son. The joy of salvation is found in death when the chosen path is eternal life. Do you know where you are going when you die?