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T he first thing I notice is the brightness of Christ’s face and the light that is all around me. Though it is brighter than anything I have ever seen, it is not uncomfortable–it is pure and white and inviting. As I look around, I see indescribable beauty in every direction. There is no other scene to even begin to compare to this. I don’t know what strikes me more: the presence of so much that is beautiful, or the absence of anything to mar it.

Immediately, I hear the sweetest music that I have ever known, and join in the singing. Right away I notice that my voice has been changed. No longer do I sing off-key, but rather with beautiful notes of glorious harmony. But that’s not all–I can tell that many other things have changed as well. I have no gnawing hunger, no dry thirst, no need of any kind. But even more than that, I feel wonderful! There is not a single pain–not even a twinge of discomfort anywhere. All of the aches and pains that I had learned to live with are now completely gone.

And my mind! I have never been able to think so clearly. There is no fogginess, no confusion, no forgetfulness. More than that, it’s like a veil has been lifted from my understanding. I am aware of things in a whole new way that I can’t even begin to explain.

Everywhere I look there are people–happy, smiling people. I know I have never met most of them before, but none of them is a stranger to me. It is like we have all been friends forever. I have never felt so much love all around me, or known this kind of peace and joy. This is paradise!

T he first thing I become aware of is that I can’t see anything. My eyes are open, and they strain to find some light, but there is none to be found. I am enveloped by a thick, suffocating darkness a thousand times blacker than anything I have ever experienced before. I have no idea what surrounds me, and must grope my way through the darkness. At the same time, I am being overwhelmed by a burning, nauseating smell that seems to come from everywhere at once.

All around me I hear the horrible sounds of countless voices screaming and wailing. It is the sound of unbelievable torture, and I try to block it out, but cannot. I soon add my own screams, as it feels that I am being burned alive. Every part of me is overtaken by the searing, unrelenting pain. I have never known such intense suffering. Surely this can’t go on forever, can it?

As I scream, my throat dries and cracks. I have never been so thirsty before. I would give anything for even one drop of water!

My mind races in circles, clouded by the pain. Through it all, I realize that I am now aware of things that I refused to believe before. My senses are more acute than they have ever been, but they are all afflicting me with misery. How can this be happening? Paralyzing fear rushes over me.

Though I know that there are many, many others around me, I have never felt so alone or so abandoned. There is no one to help me, no one to comfort me. All I have now are my memories–and they torment me. This could not be any worse!

Which of these two scenes will you be in the moment after you die? Don’t think that death is the end! When your body dies, your spirit and soul will live on to spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. Jesus taught this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), and when He told the repentant thief “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:32-43). In both cases the teaching was the same: those who die with Jesus as their Saviour enter awake and aware into God’s presence, and those who die without Jesus enter into torments. There is no “waiting period,” or time for review or appeal. Your eternal dwelling is determined during your life, not after.

The Bible speaks of a time when those without Jesus will stand before God for judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), with their destiny already determined: “Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” How can you be saved from this judgment? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Recognize that you are a sinner and turn to Jesus for salvation. Then you can be assured that you will spend eternity with Jesus, who loves you so much that He died for you and rose again. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Read John 3.

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