“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”  James 4:13-14 (NLT)

I recently attended the funeral of my last aunt, who lived three weeks shy of her 101st birthday.  It was so wonderful to celebrate her amazing life and more importantly, her life eternal.  She was a Believer in Jesus.  She knew eternity awaited.  She knew her rewards were stored up for her in Heaven.  She knew the words, “well done thou good and faithful servant” would be proclaimed during the incredible homecoming celebration that greeted her.  

I learned that her secret to a long life was a Mt. Dew each morning.  Hmm, I may need to back off on my comments about this caffeine laced drink to our kids.

As I sat in a room full of people coming to honor this amazing lady’s life, the scriptures that say tomorrow is not guaranteed and eternal life awaits resonated in my head.  I considered that my aunt had lived a century, slightly less that 5% of the time that has passed since Jesus died and rose again.  She had lived 1% of 10,000 years.  She was known to God before time began.  She entered into eternity where every trial, trouble, difficulty and sadness in her life on earth were immediately made clear in their purpose and most importantly, in their insignificance compared to the eternal life she arrived into as she shed that worn out body and broken world where she had shepherded so well.

I have recently read about people dying who lived lives on earth that seemed to be contrary to a life surrendered and committed to Jesus.  I read statements like “RIP” and “see you on the other side.”  I then cannot help but know that eternity does await each of us.  Either an eternity in the presence of the Creator of all joy, love, promise, peace given to those of us who choose God because of his Son’s death and resurrection.  Or, an eternity separated from God, from joy, from love, from promise, from peace.  An eternity in Hell is described as eternal darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, fire and brimstone, where the worm does not die and the fire not quenched.  The best description of Hell that I have recently heard is ‘the eternal separation from God and all hope.’  There is no RIP in Hell!  

Eternity is guaranteed and the choice is ours.  God has provided a pathway to eternity with him through salvation.  Those who have died apart from God are not resting in peace.  My prayer is that you do not see them on the other side.  My hope is that you have hope assured through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  This relationship is the only path to life eternal.

So, I take comfort and joy knowing that my last earthly living aunt now lives for eternity in the inconceivable beauty and joy that is Heaven.  I know that one day many in her family will join her, as will my family.  Heaven or Hell awaits.  Please choose wisely.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)