Eternal Life: Please Don’t leave this world without it!

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. I was recently asked a question about the possibility of a second chance after one has died. The question was along these lines: What happens to souls that pass before they can attempt to make it right with Jesus? Do they have an opportunity to respond to Jesus after they die but before the day of judgment? John tells us, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Revelation 20:12). According to Jesus, eternal life is an intimate knowledge of God the Father and God the Son (see John 17:3). Standing before this throne are the resurrected dead who left this life without eternal life—those who did not accept Christ during life (John 3:36). These condemned persons represent all classes of human beings. They are being judged by Jesus, (John 5:22-23) the Faithful and True Judge, who died to provide a way of escape from sin and eternal punishment (John 3:16–18). Those assembled at this throne rejected Jesus’ redemptive work and His gracious invitation to believe on Him and have everlasting life. As a result, rather than being judged on the basis of Jesus’ work, they face the record of their sins when the books are opened. The record shows they sinned and failed to repent. At the same time, another book is opened, which is “the book of life.” John continues, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). As Revelation 20:15 points out, the doomed are sentenced to eternal punishment because their names are not written in the book of life. Their names were not in the book of life because they died without having eternal life! They left this world without it. Once someone dies, their fate is sealed! Be encouraged!