Heaven or Hell?

Times and circumstances appear better for many today than they did starting back in 2008. Many people lost their jobs; many people lost their homes. Unemployment was higher than usual.

From 2008 until now has been a difficult time for many and still remains difficult for some. However, many tell us that jobs are coming back and that unemployment is down. Many tell us that homes are beginning to sell again. Times seem better for some, but not for all.

Despite what many have been through over the last six years and what some are still going through, we are still a very blessed people, state and nation. We need only count our blessings, one by one, to realize this.

I recently learned there was or is a place where unemployment was or is 85 percent and the inflation rate was or is at 165,000 percent. I say was or is because I was too dumbfounded remembering the 85 and the 165,000.

Despite our not having 85 percent unemployment in America or Georgia and despite our not having 165,000 percent inflation in America or Georgia, we still have people who feel like unemployment and inflation are at these rates in America and Georgia.

Numbers mean nothing to people who are brokenhearted and suffering. Unless you have been unemployed, homeless, or had every bit of hope taken from you, you cannot imagine what others may have gone through or are going through at this time.

Almost every day we hear of unfortunate circumstances that are happening right before our eyes in our nation and state. There are people who are homeless. There are people who are jobless. There are people who are sick. There are people who are hungry. There are companies taking advantage of employees. There are people becoming rich at the expense of the poor. We could make this list longer, but you get the picture.

Another picture: who among us can say affirmatively, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me?”

Another picture: who can stand before the Lord and hear, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me?”

And a final picture: who among us will the Lord say, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels?”

We have a lot of choices to make today and every day. The choices we make will determine whether we spend eternity, not several days or weeks, but eternity—forever —in heaven or in hell.

How we treat others will determine whether we spend eternity, not several days or weeks, but eternity—forever —in heaven or in hell. How we use the resources that God has given us, because if we are honest, we did not give them to ourselves, will determine whether we spend eternity, not several days or weeks, but eternity—forever —in heaven or in hell.

Live as if tomorrow you will be in either heaven or hell because you will be.