Two Eternal Homes

One minute after you die, everything will change. You will either be welcomed into the glorious presence of Jesus Christ, or you will awaken to a place of separation and torment—a place without light, without love, without hope.

Erwin Lutzer wrote, “One minute after you die, you will either be enjoying a personal welcome from Christ—or catching your first glimpse of gloom as you’ve never known it.”

That moment is coming for each of us. We don’t get to opt out of eternity. The only question is: Where will your soul spend forever?

Many people think eternity starts after death—but Scripture teaches eternity is already in motion. Eternity doesn’t begin when you die—it began when you were born. Right now, you’re on a road that leads to one of two destinations. Every decision, every rejection, every act of faith or unbelief is shaping your forever.

2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Now is the day of salvation.” The Bible makes it clear—there are only two eternal homes: Heaven or Hell. And today, by God’s grace, we will look into both.

Let’s begin with the reality our world tries so hard to ignore: Hell—the home we were not made for.

Hell is not a symbolic idea. It is not a fictional warning. Hell is a real place. Jesus Christ spoke more about Hell than He did about Heaven—not to frighten us, but to warn us.

In Matthew 25:41, He says, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” God did not design Hell for human beings. It was created for Satan and his hosts. But tragically, those who reject Christ—those who live their lives without bowing to His lordship—will join them there. Not as invited guests, but as uninvited souls who chose rebellion over redemption.

Hell is a place of unquenchable fire. In Mark 9:43, Jesus described it as the place “where the fire is not quenched.” It is a place of torment—mental, emotional, and spiritual agony. It is a place of memory.

In Luke 16, the rich man in Hell remembers his life, his decisions, his missed opportunities. Hell is not forgetfulness—it is eternal regret.

It is also a place of thirst. Not just for water, but for mercy, for peace, for the presence of God—thirsts that will never be quenched. But the worst part of Hell is not the fire, not the thirst, not even the memory.

The worst part of Hell is what’s not there: Jesus. The best part of Heaven is the presence of Jesus. The worst part of Hell is His absence. Hell is undiluted wrath. Pure justice. No grace. No gospel. No chance.

And who will be in Hell? Revelation 21:8 gives us the list: “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars…”

That is a sobering roll call. According to Scripture, Hell will be occupied by Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, the fallen angels, Judas Iscariot, and all the unsaved. These are not accusations—they are eternal realities.

But hear me: you do not have to be on that list. Hell was not made for you. You were made for God. You were made for glory. You were made for Heaven.

Now let us turn to the second home: Heaven—the home we were created for. Revelation 21:1–4 gives us a breathtaking vision. John writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.’”

Heaven is not a floating cloud or a vague idea. Heaven is a real city—prepared by a real Savior—for real people who have placed their trust in Him. It is the fulfillment of every promise, every hope, every longing we’ve ever had.

Do you want to know how vast Heaven is?

Revelation 21:16 tells us the city is 1,400 miles long, wide, and high. That’s over 2.7 billion cubic miles. The Earth’s total surface area—land and water—is about 180 million square miles. Heaven’s city alone is more than 15 times the size of the Earth’s surface.

Some scholars estimate that 40 billion people have lived on Earth since Adam. Even if all 40 billion were saved, they could fit on the first floor of this celestial city. In Heaven, there's no overcrowding, no shortages, no end.

And who will live there?

Scripture tells us: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Holy angels. The twenty-four elders who represent the people of God. The redeemed Church—those washed in the blood of the Lamb. Saved Israel—those faithful to God’s covenant. And you—if you have trusted in Jesus Christ.

Heaven is not just a place—it’s a prepared home for a prepared people.

Let me illustrate it this way. Do you remember the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition?

Families living in broken, cramped, or damaged homes were nominated to receive a brand-new house. A team of experts would come in, tear down the old structure, and build something entirely new—custom-designed, beautiful, and filled with joy. And the most emotional moment of the entire show was when the bus moved, and the family saw their new home for the first time. Tears would stream down their faces. Children would run toward the porch. Parents would collapse in gratitude. Why? Because someone else had prepared a home for them—something they didn’t have the power or the resources to build themselves.

Friend, that’s a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The King of kings has personally designed your eternal home. The bus is going to move one day—and when it does, you’re not just going to see a house. You’re going to see glory. Beauty. Peace. And most of all, you’ll see Jesus waiting on the porch, arms wide open, saying, “Welcome home.”

No more tears — comfort is complete (Rev. 21:4)

No more death — eternity without separation

No more pain — every wound healed

Light without sun — Jesus Himself is the light (Rev. 21:23)

You won’t need a hospital in Heaven. You won’t need a funeral home. You won’t need a counseling session. Every scar will be healed. Every injustice will be reversed. Every longing will be fulfilled in the presence of Christ.

But now we must ask: Which home will you choose?

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The doors of Hell are locked on the inside.”

Hell is not where God sends people—it’s where people send themselves by refusing to receive the grace of Christ. You don’t end up in Hell by accident. You have to step over the love of God, the blood of Jesus, and the pleading of the Holy Spirit to get there. John Hagee says, “You will not accidentally arrive in Heaven. You must choose the path that leads you there.”

You don’t have to guess or hope you’re saved. You can know. Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Not maybe. Not eventually. You will be saved.

The path to Heaven begins with a surrendered heart and a trusting soul. Adrian Rogers once said, “You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die.”

And I’ll ask you—are you ready to die a good death? Not because your life was perfect, but because your soul is at peace with God.

A good death is a saved death. A good death is when your last breath on Earth is followed by your first step into glory. A good death is when the arms of Jesus receive you—not as a stranger, but as a child come home.

If Heaven is your home, why live like the world? Why speak like the world? Why act like you're staying here? You're just passing through. You’re on assignment. So live like you're going home soon.

Heaven and Hell are not just ideas. They are destinations. And you’re headed to one or the other. There’s no in-between. There’s no purgatory. There’s no second chance after death.

Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” The question is not, “Will you go somewhere?” The question is, “Where will you go?”

Today, you are standing at a spiritual crossroads.

To your left is a road paved with pride, self-will, and sin. That road leads to a place of fire, isolation, and sorrow. But to your right is a narrow path—a road marked by grace, lit by the cross, leading to a city with gates of pearl and streets of gold.

Jesus said in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.” The question is not, “Is Heaven ready?” The question is, “Are you ready for Heaven?”

Today, the door is open. The blood has been shed. The invitation is yours. Will you walk away unchanged? Or will you come to Jesus while there’s still time?

As you hear this message, the Spirit of God is whispering: “Come home.” Don't silence that voice. Don’t ignore eternity. Don’t gamble with your soul.

Heaven is calling. Which eternal home will you choose?