Reflection - Luke 16:19-31
Death does not respect anyone, friends! It is everyone's prayer to live a good long life, but death can visit the young, the old, the rich, the poor, a saint, or a sinner, at any time and at any place, according to God's will. After death, then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There would be no more chances for repentance and salvation.
When a person dies, loved ones begin to plan his funeral. They make necessary arrangements and prepare to read his will. While these are going on, the dead finds himself in one of two places: Paradise (the resting place for the righteous, before resurrection), or Hades (the place of torment where sinners are kept before they are cast into the lake of fire, on the day of final judgment). The departed one in Hades is full of regrets. He is possibly filled with rage as he remembers those who knew what he could have done to avoid being there, but didn't tell him. The one in Paradise is with the Lord - the place of ideal loveliness and delight.
Are you saved? Do those you hang out with and listen to, tell you about the importance of getting saved and what could happen to you after death? Are they wasting your time and telling you only how to successfully acquire more of the things of the world so you can constantly give to them to build their own empires? Do they tell you the whole truth, and nothing but the truth - about the falsehood of reincarnation; that tomorrow is promised no one; that Jesus is coming back soon? Have they told you yet that you cannot be saved by good deeds but the Blood of Jesus? Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
We are not to be fearful of death itself, but where we would find ourselves once our eyes are permanently closed. Those who have had the privilege to be taken up to Paradise said they got there and didn't want to come back. I was once taken to Hades (very briefly). The truth? - It was not good, dear ones. I was more than grateful that I was given a second chance. Do you know what awaits you when you die? Make it right with the One who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). You might be wondering how to make it right with God, or how easy, tedious, and terrifying, it is. I have good news! It is not as complicated as you may have been made to believe, to make peace with God. You can do so, right now, and right where you are. Now is the time of salvation.