Does God Really Want to Save Everyone?

Does God want to save everybody? Does He give everyone a chance, some light or revelation?

Of course, I realize that God’s foreknowledge and predestination are in the Bible. An omniscient God knows who will be saved and who will reject Him.

Was Christ’s death on the cross the sufficient sacrifice to pay for the sins of the whole world? You may read these verses for yourself. I think it’s important to see what the Bible actually says. 

• Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 10:32).
• Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
• And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Matthew 16:15).
• And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10).
• And all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6).
• The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1: 7, 9, 11-12).
• That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:15-17).
• Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:13-14).
• For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:33, 51).
• Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).
• I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (John 10:9).
• I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness (John 12:46).
• And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:21, 38).
• And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37).
• To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43).
• Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent (Acts 13:26).
• And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:30-31)
• And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
• To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (Acts 26:18).
• Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (Romans 3:22).
• Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (Romans 5:18).
• As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Romans 9:33).
• That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:9, 11-13).
• For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).
• And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed (Galatians 3:8).
• Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:4, 6).
• For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe (1 Timothy 4:10).
• For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).
• The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
• Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God (1 John 4:15).

For me, these verses are a blessing! Jesus died for all. He wants all men to come to Him. He can forgive all our nasty sins. His death on the cross was sufficient payment for everyone. Wonderful! I love that the Bible ends with this beautiful invitation: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).

Sadly, some people reject Jesus’ payment for their sins. It is horrible that anyone would choose not to receive His gift of love.

• He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16).
• And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).
• And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47).
• Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation (Romans 13:2).
• And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:10, 12). 

Have you accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation? Have you called upon Him in faith? He wants to save you.

For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 6:23)

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

(Isaiah 1:18b)

  

Androgynous and Ambiguous: Why It's Harming the Next Generation

A child in Canada was recently born, and they didn't state any gender. Pop stars and many others dress so that you can’t tell whether they’re male or female. This androgynous style is trending in Korea and Japan. A little boy applies drag makeup so well he can morph his face to look like many different women. Parents are calling a little boy a girl. In school, kids are taught they can choose their gender—or no gender at all, if they prefer. I even read about a couple where the one partner is trans-male, the other pan-gender, and the child is being reared as non-gender.

I’m not making these up!

There’s a philosophy out there that’s doing away with birth gender and making it acceptable not to really be anything. It’s almost like gender neutral. No more girls. No more boys. Now, we have ????? I’m not sure. The biological definitions have been erased.

Our ideas about gender come from our culture and background. As far as I know, most cultures have always held some kind of distinction between the genders. Male and female clothing is somewhat different. Roles in society are different. Why? Because it’s evident that human beings are born either male or female.

So what’s going on?

Why confuse the issue?

Why create a middle ground of gender mixing or non-gender or whatever they want to call it? Why the emphasis on helping children not to be what they were born to be—and especially finding a place in between? Why is this significant? Or is it just a passing, harmless fad?

I believe it’s important and dangerous, because blurring the lines between male and female harms children mentally, socially, and morally. When children know who they are as a boy or girl, they grow up with a healthy attitude towards growing up to be a man or a woman. They don’t even think much about gender. They're secure in knowing who they are—and what roles are expected of them in the future.

Now, I believe that a woman can be an excellent mechanic, and a man can be a five-star chef. I think “non-traditional” jobs are absolutely fine, according to a person’s talents and interests. That’s not what we’re talking about in this blog post.

I’m addressing blurring or doing away with gender identity. I believe it’s helpful to know what the Bible says. In the first chapter of the Bible, we read: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:27-28). Let’s understand what these two verses say about gender and about God's purpose for making mankind.

• People are made in God’s image. It’s repeated for emphasis.
• God made people male and female.
• God blessed them.
• God told them to multiply. Biology teaches us you need sperm and egg to do that. You need a male and a female.
• God gave human beings dominion (leadership) over all animal forms. 

From the beginning, God made genders. God made genders for a purpose, and He made people in His own image.

Later, we read how God made Adam. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).

God created Eve differently. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Genesis 2:21-23).

Adam and Eve were different from each other. They were also created differently. And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). Her name Eve actually means she was the mother of the whole human race.

There’s a holy purpose to gender. It is God’s original design. It’s correct to identify ourselves as male and female.

A friend recently filled out a form having three boxes on it. The boxes said:

Male

Female

Other

She laughingly confessed she was tempted to check “other”!

Why is blurring the lines of gender harmful? It does away with God’s design. It harms children mentally and emotionally.

What kind of problems will future generations have when children are clueless about what they are? What kinds of homes will result when there’s no longer father and mother? What will the children from these homes become? This trend is as damaging as anything that’s happening.

As Christians, we need to be aware and help our own children to appreciate who God made them to be. We want them to grow up confident and secure in their own bodies and then to mature into men and women who can impact their world for Christ and ultimately, become fathers and mothers to the next generation.

"In the Eye of the Beholder"

“Beauty is as beauty does.”

“Beauty comes from within.”

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

We’ve heard them all our lives. Did we believe these sayings?

When I was young, I adored beauty. I dreamed of being Miss America, wearing a long, sparkling white evening gown and a tiara, holding an armful of red roses, and smiling, with flashbulbs going off all around me. Alas, it was only a dream! But it was so real … I think I woke up with a tear in my eye.

“Beauty is as beauty does.” Every mother says that to make her daughter want to do right. I don’t think it worked on me.

“Beauty comes from within.” I half believed this one. After all, I knew some pretty homely people who were truly handsome once you got to know them. They laughed with their eyes. That’s always attractive. You have to have something inside for it to show outside. Yes, I think I believed this one most of my youth.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” I laugh at my younger self for being so shallow. I was always marveling if a beautiful person—in my judgment—married a mud fence. I couldn’t figure it out! One of my female relatives used to say, “There’s a Jack for every Jill.” And, it’s true. We all have our preferences. Also, we see the beauty in someone because we love him. We might also see him differently because we really know him. And then, there are fads of beauty. Right now, the ideal is skinny and tall—nice if you’re naturally that way. Back in the 1960s the ideal (except for Twiggy) was more fleshed out. In the 1930s waists were impossibly small, but back a few hundred years, people preferred “pleasantly plump,” “healthy” looking women. Pretty round faces … sounds great to me! The same goes for men. Just compare Cary Grant and Gregory Peck with any of the actors today. Beauty is definitely in the eye—and the era—of the beholder.

Beauty.

Do you want to be beautiful?

(I do.)

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the LORD,

she shall be praised (Proverbs 31:30).

Let’s take the second part of this verse first: a woman who respects the Lord will be praised. The first part of the verse provides the negative contrast. Negative? Yep. It says favour is deceitful. Let’s think about that part for a little while. Deceitful means: tricky or lying. Favor—other people fawning over you—can be a form of flattery, which is most often because of jealousy and hatred. Beauty is vain. The word vain means: “conceited, self-centered,” and it can also mean “useless.” Beauty on the outside is just superficial. Beauty that comes from the inside—a soul that is in submission to God—is praiseworthy.

God isn't against physical beauty. In fact, the Bible describes several women as fair or beautiful. You can look them up, here:

• Sarai (Genesis 12:11, 14)
• Rebekah (Genesis 24:16; 26:7)
• Rachel (Genesis 29:17)
• Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3)
• Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2)
• Abishag (1 Kings 1:3-4)
• Esther (Esther 2:7)
• Job’s daughters: Jemima, Kesia, and Kerenhappuch (Job 42:15)
• the Shulamite (Song of Solomon, throughout the book)

A biblical perspective, however, always values inward beauty over glamour. Consider these passages:

• As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion (Proverbs 11:22).
• A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones (Proverbs 12:4).
• Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10).
• Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come (Proverbs 31:25).
• I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also (just like the men in the previous verse), that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works (1 Timothy 2:8-10).
• Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands (1 Peter 3:3-5a).

Does this mean that the outside doesn’t matter? Some Christians think so, and that’s their prerogative. I differ because the Bible seems to value a woman’s appearance to a certain degree.

Look at Queen Esther, for example: And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful … Now when the turn of Esther … was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month … And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti (from Esther 2:7, 15-17).

I don’t know if you ever noticed it before, but Esther understood the power of simple elegance. She was gorgeous, but she didn’t add to the clothing that was given to her. She could have had all kinds of accessories, but she chose to go to the king in the simplest attire possible. Coco Chanel, the famous clothing designer said, “Once you've dressed, and before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.”

This next biblical passage is an allegory about God and the nation of Israel, which He compares to a queen bride. Read how she’s dressed: Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee (Psalm 45:9, 11, 13-14).

Here’s another allegorical passage about God (speaking) and the nation of Israel. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness (Ezekiel 16:10-14).

And, here’s a description of the Virtuous Woman’s clothing and what she provided for her household: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple (Proverbs 31:21-22).

Beauty indeed comes from within, from respecting God and obeying His commands. It comes from the joy we have in Christ and from not stressing over things but praying about them. Beauty comes from a peaceful heart. When the inner person is right, it shows in the care the woman exercises in order to reflect God’s beauty. She dresses with style and grace and is known for the lovely smile on her face.

May God bless you!

Want a Better World?

Would you like to see an end to terrorism, bloodshed, war, and chaos? Would you like to live in a world where everyone treats others with kindness? Can you imagine never having to turn on the news to view something ugly?

It’s going to happen! Not now, but it will. (More about this later.)

But, for now, there’s one way you can make a better world. If you’re a born again Christian, you can begin to change the world.

How?

Share the gospel with everyone you know. So that we understand what the gospel is, the Apostle Paul gives us a perfect three-point outline: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that (1) Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that (2) he was buried, and that (3) he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). All we need to do is share those three points!

1. Jesus died for our sins.
2. Jesus was buried.
3. Jesus rose again.

When a person believes the gospel in His heart, turns from his sin, and cries out to the Lord for salvation,* he is saved. When a person’s heart changes, everything about him changes. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Even terrorists?

Yes. Islamic terror is all about false teachings and false ideology. It’s also about the false promise of having many virgins and unlimited pleasures in Paradise for the warrior who dies in jihad. Non-Islamic terrorists are motivated by different false teachings and goals, many of them political. Every terrorist does what he does because he actually believes in his cause.

If he would listen to the gospel and turn from his wicked ways, he would be a new person. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die (Ezekiel 18:21). Jesus said, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).

The problem, as I see it, is that Christians don’t feel the urgency to spread the gospel. They also might feel afraid to reach certain people groups. Another difficulty is that many countries of the world are closed to traditional missions. But, that doesn’t mean no one can go and these people can’t be reached. And, more than anything, it doesn’t mean you can’t reach your neighbors where you live!

I can hardly believe that people don’t know their neighbors. Why? There are lots of reasons. We live such busy lives. But God put us on the earth with a purpose: glorify God. We actually glorify Him when we share the gospel of salvation with others. It isn’t an option; it’s a command. And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).

So, how can a normal woman, living a normal life (whatever that is!) “preach” the gospel? Each person has a different personality and varying abilities. We’re in different jobs and places. The important thing is to look for ways to reach your world for Christ. I’m going to float some ideas out there, but you can ask God what you can do. You might be surprised at how He leads!

Ideas for women to spread the gospel:

1. Give gospel tracts to people you actually engage in conversation: clerks, friends, etc.
2. Leave gospel tracts—just one—in public places: hotel rooms, restrooms, etc.
3. Get to know people. Start with your neighbors, but this can broaden into a neighborhood Bible study. You can join a club, gym, or even an online group that caters to people in your interests. I think online forums are great places for witness and networking.
4. Write. Do you have a novel in you—waiting to be written? Do you blog? Are you a poet? Try being a witness through your writing.
5. Volunteer. Can you work in a hospice, with a pregnancy center, or as a counselor? What can you do to help in your church? (Ask your pastor where there are needs.) Sunday school teachers can impact children for God.
6. Teach. Can you teach English as a second language? Can you offer tutoring? Are you a teacher in a school?
7. Think outside the box. This begins with prayer. Ask God for ways to meet and impact unsaved people. He will answer.

I am not so naïve as to think that everyone you witness to will respond with genuine faith and repentance. But, I also don't think that every Christian is actively looking for ways to share Christ. If your neighbor accepts Christ, he will be a new neighbor. If a child knows the Lord, he will be a different child. If your friend gets to know Jesus, she’ll not only be on her way to heaven, but you’ll have someone to disciple and mentor. You’ll have sweet fellowship with her. If whole Christian communities were actively sharing the gospel—not “love” or watered down messages—we’d see a revival. A revival means changed towns and ultimately a changed world.

Do I believe that will happen? I don’t know. Personally, I think Bible prophecy is being fulfilled under our noses, and I’m not sure if that includes another Great Awakening—but it might. Even if not, we are debtors** to the world around us. We must spread the Good News of the gospel.

So, when will there be peace on earth and an ideal kingdom? Read Revelation 20:1-6. Jesus will rule for a thousand years. It might be as close as seven years away!

Jesus said, I must work the works of him that sent me,

while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4).

Do you want a better world? Reach out to others, sharing the gospel of Christ! The time is short, and the need is great.

_______________

* For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13).

** The idea of debtors is from Romans 1:14, where Paul says he’s a debtor to the world.

The Great Mysteries of Life: The Answers Are So Hard, So Simple

A few of these mysteries come to mind:

How did the universe begin?

What is life?

Where did we come from?

Why am I here?

Is there anything after death?

Scientists spend millions of dollars trying to find the beginning of the universe. If they can only collide atoms well enough, they’ll find the “God particle” that holds things together. Archaeologists and paleontologists look for keys to understanding the beginnings of mankind. Evolutionists are constantly changing their theory with new discoveries, but they always talk about links between apes or other creatures and humans and evolution over millions of years. Astronomers can see farther and farther into the universe with new telescopes and satellites. They find innumerable galaxies and consider the possibility of the existence of other earths and civilizations. They’re sure something’s out there. Everyone wants to know his purpose. Why am I here, anyway?

These are the mysteries of life.

The more complicated humans make it, the less they know . . . .

Someone Who knows everything

has already revealed the answers!

It’s so simple.

All we need to do is open the Bible!

Let’s take the mysteries one by one.

1. How did the universe begin?

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). For more details about the creation of the world, read Genesis 1 and 2.

2. What is life?

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so (Genesis 1:30).

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7).

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:28).

God gives life to plants, animals, and people. He provides humans with eternal life, if they accept His gift through Jesus Christ. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).

3. Where did we come from?

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:26-27).

4. Why am I here?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

5. What happens after death?

And Jesus said unto him (the thief on the cross), Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).

The Apostle Paul said, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Jesus told this true story. (It is not a parable.) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus illustrates the two different places people go after they have died. One is heaven, and the other is hell, a place of torment. Yes, God Himself clearly says there’s life after death.

There are probably more mysteries of the universe that I didn’t think of, but all the answers are in the Holy Word of God, the Bible. We don't need to scratch our heads. We only need to trust the One Who created, the One Who died for us, the One Who gives us life and purpose.