Is _____________ in Heaven or Hell?

As a former pastor and hospice chaplain, I always heard that people were in a better place when they died. 

I usually smiled and nodded because I never heard anyone say that someone who died was not in a better place - and it is not my place to judge.

But were they in a better place, really?

God's Word gives good reason for us to be careful when making assertions about a specific person’s eternal destiny, and I approach this topic with humility and a tear in my eye.

Before I describe what God's Word says about eternal destinies, I have to tell you about a wonderful "God moment" I had at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, MO. I saw a group of youth with bright yellow shirts that had a great saying. On the front of the shirt, in bright blue letters on the bright yellow background, there was written, "Two things are true: 1. There is a God." and on the back of the shirt, it said, "2. You're not him!"

TRUE!

As we approach God's Word about this important topic, it’s impossible to say for certain what relationship another person has with God. We cannot see the heart, but God can:

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV)

Neither do we possess the ability to peer into heaven or hell to see who is there. Human beings simply aren’t equipped to come to a clear conclusion about whether someone is in heaven or hell. For this reason, the real question is whether or not someone understands and embraces the Gospel as evidenced by their lifestyle. 

John Newton, who wrote "Amazing Grace," said that three things will surprise him about heaven. Number one, who is there. Number two, who is not there. Number three, that he is there.

What we know for sure about everyone (based on the Word of God) is that there are only two destinations for the dead: heaven and hell. Those who have accepted Christ will be with God after death in heaven. Those who have rejected the Lord Jesus will be separated from Him for eternity in hell.

A better question than “is so-and-so in heaven or hell?” is “was so-and-so’s life consistent with saving faith in Christ?” Some lives clearly fall on one side or the other of that criterion. Yet, according to the Bible, it’s possible to “put on a show” and still be lost. The scariest verses in all of Holy Writ to me are Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21–23, NIV)

Only God truly knows what goes on in the heart, even when that person seems beyond hope.

Those who publicly profess faith in Christ and whose lives seem consistent with that profession would be on the “probably saved” side of the spectrum. When a person’s words and actions give evidence of faith in Christ, then it’s reasonable to assume that he will be with God when he passes. This conclusion is tempered by the fact that externals are not what actually matters; it’s possible for someone to mask a lack of faith in Jesus:

“Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside, you appear to people as righteous but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:26–28, NIV)

Those who overtly reject Christ would be on the “probably unsaved” end of the scale. Those who make it clear by their words and actions that they reject the gospel give others reason to think they’ll be lost when they pass. At the same time, God can save anyone, no matter how close to death they are (Matthew 20:1-16) and we don’t know what may happen in the secrecy of a person’s heart in the last moments before his death. Also, there are those who may struggle with habitual sin despite having legitimate faith.

One’s public persona, especially for celebrities, is often not the same as one’s private life. This dichotomy can make it virtually impossible to say what a public figure’s real views on faith and spirituality were. Even if we can make an educated guess, that assumption has to be kept in perspective.

Ultimately, the gospel is the only hope for any of us after this life. Regardless of whether some particular deceased person is in heaven, our personal need for Christ remains. We can confidently say that in Christ there is salvation (John 6:27) If a person accepts the gospel and is born from above (born again), he will be with the Lord Jesus after death (John 3:1-18). 

Where there is life, there is hope. Keep extending the hope of Christ to everyone who is still breathing around you!

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36, NIV)

 Rejoicing, On the Victory Side!

Beau