Are you ready to die? There's a question that some Christians ask people when they do door-to-door evangelism which goes, "If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven or hell?" This question is supposed to open a discussion on how one can prevent going to hell and go to heaven instead. The discussion usually ends with the decision theology in which we make a decision to accept Jesus as our personal Savior and go to heaven when we die. In this scenario, we are the ones doing all the work. Yes, Jesus did all the work on the cross, but unless we make a decision for him, instead of a life of sin and unbelief, we will end up in hell. In short, the individual prepares themselves for either eternal life or eternal death.

But what does God's Word say about this? If we are asked the same question, "Where would we go if we died tonight," how would we answer this? Instead of going to a personal decision, or meditating on how good or badly we have led our lives, we should instead go to what Holy Scripture says. Jesus says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you" (John 15:16).  St. Paul said, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:3-5).  And again Jesus says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).  These verses declare that salvation is not a decision we make, but a choice that Jesus makes for us. He is the one that determines our salvation. He is the one that determines our destination when we die. If it were up to us, we would die in our sins and suffer eternal punishment for them. However, salvation isn't up to us, but rather is all the work of Jesus. We don't prepare ourselves for the afterlife, Jesus does. He is the one that prepares our souls to depart this life in joy and peace. In Christ, in His death and resurrection, our soul is prepared. In Baptism, in the Lord's Supper, in the Gospel proclaimed, in Holy Absolution, and in the mutual consolation of the brethren, the ways in which the gifts of the cross are distributed to us, our soul is prepared to die and go through the portal to life immortal. In short, you and I don't determine our salvation, Jesus does. Therefore, we can be at peace knowing that He does all things for us, forgives us in our failures, and carries us through every trial and doubt ridden day. Jesus prepares us for eternal life; therefore, we can rest in the knowledge and answer, "When I die, I shall be in paradise because Jesus has done all the work for me, forgives me, and promises to never leave me nor forsake me."

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "Be at peace. Your salvation is finished. I have gone before you to prepare a place for you," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull