What Is Your Destination?

There has been a fascination throughout history as to whether a person will live again after he/she dies.  Over the last several decades, there has been a resurgence of curiosity about this, as seen by the purchasing of various books dealing with “near-death” experiences.  Sadly, many people within Christendom have endorsed some of these books as proof that there is a real heaven.

However, we have all the proof and everything that we need to know about heaven from the Bible. The issue we need to deal with is where a person’s destination is going to be; not what it is going to be like in our limited understanding.  Every single person will experience life after death.  The difference is whether or not it will be in the presence of God or separated forever from God’s presence.  The only people to experience spiritual resurrection will be those who believe on the Name of Jesus Christ.  But everyone will experience a physical resurrection.  Just like we cannot comprehend the incredible torture and torment that will be physically and emotionally present for those who reject Christ; neither can we comprehend the incredible peace and joy and awesomeness for those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.  To be in the presence of God forever without any taint of sin; who can understand that?!?  The Bible is clear throughout its pages that the wicked will experience resurrection to punishment; whereas, the righteous will experience resurrection to everlasting life.

Several years ago, we were heading into the Ontario peninsula, close to Niagara Falls, to see some dear friends that are just like family to us.  At the border, they asked us some specific questions, “What is your destination?”  To which, we’d say, “St. Catharines and Virgil.” 

Then they asked, “What is your purpose?”  We responded by saying, “To visit some special friends.” 

Then they asked, “How long will you be there?”  Our answer was, “Approximately 4 days.” 

Then they asked, “Do you have anything of value to declare?”  Our response was, “Only our personal belongings.”

Christian, these are some of the same questions we need to be able to answer.  The most important for us is “What is your destination?”  We need to know where we’re heading and why; and then point others to that same destination.

Out with the Old, In with the New. - 5.25-26

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself . . . “

Jesus is following up on His previous comments about judgment and life and death, along with the authority which God the Father has given to Him.  From a grammatical point of view, we might find the first part of this confusing.  What is Jesus meaning when He says the hour is coming and now is? 

The real world consists of people who think they’re alive but are really walking dead people.  Those who are dead in their sin and hear God’s voice now and respond in belief will live right now and eternally.  They will now experience eternal life. When their physical bodies are dead, they will then experience eternal life physically.  

This causes me to wonder what it is that makes a person spiritually dead.  Before turning our lives over to Christ, we never really understand the things about God.  We never really cared about that.  We didn’t realize that we were God’s enemies nor that we were really evil.  We didn’t give too much thought to the afterlife, where we would spend eternity.  We were just part of this world’s system, going along for the ride.  None of that stuff made any sense until that moment that the Holy Spirit caused us to realize all of this.  When we finally made the choice to follow Christ, forsaking this world and its thinking, we were made alive in Christ, no longer spiritually dead.

Still, some wonder what they can do to make this happen.  After all, many of us are self-made, so we think.  Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.  Just get me in the right church or under the right teaching and that will take care of all this.  The truth of the matter, is that only Jesus can give life.  You see, there is nobody that is capable of doing this except Christ, because nobody else is God.  Nobody, but Jesus, has existed throughout eternity, without beginning or end, that has ever walked this planet.  

But then there are some who think that just by “hearing,” they will experience this eternal life.  They feel that by being in church or a part of a church, that should automatically assure them of a spiritual resurrection.  Many hear the words and the information and even experience the benefits and blessings of being a part of a body of Christians.  However, unless one hears, with the result of an act of faith, by turning from sin and turning towards Jesus, having a desire of being obedient to Him only, then they are still dead.  In order to experience spiritual resurrection, one must, in faith, confess your sins, repent of them, and turn to Jesus, accepting Him for Who He is and what He offers.

When we think of resurrection and eternal life, we usually think beyond the spiritual and head towards the physical.  As Christians, we would do well to understand that the physical resurrection will actually take place for believer and unbeliever alike.  That is another motivation for us to share the Good News of Jesus with as many as we possibly can.  In the next few verses, Jesus is about to point out that everyone will be alive after they die.  It’s the destination that will be different.

Off with the Old, On with the New. - 5.27-29

“ . . . and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.  Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Jesus presents more information as to what He had been sharing.  Earlier, He stated that the Father had given Him authority to give life.  Once again, He states that the Father has given Him authority to execute judgment.  But look at the qualification which Jesus gives.  He refers to Himself as the Son of Man.  As being fully God, He can give life; being fully God and fully man gives Him the authority to execute judgment.  According to the book of Hebrews, Jesus experienced all that we experience, yet was without sin.  Thus, He would certainly be the only One who could execute judgment impartially as a man and as God.  

Obviously, those self-righteous religious leaders probably were in absolute shock and disbelief.  After all, this carpenter’s son had just claimed to be God; the One Who gave life and the One Who would judge all humanity.  Then Jesus states, Do not marvel at this . . .  In other words, you haven’t seen anything yet.  Jesus proceeded to drop another truth bomb on their thinking.  One day, He’s going to raise humanity from the dead, right out of their graves.  

Here, we recognize there is a difference from the spiritual resurrection.  The spiritual has a right now and future implication.  However, Jesus points out that the physical resurrection is still future.  As MacArthur states:  At that time, the souls of the righteous dead, now in heaven with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6–8), and of the wicked dead, now in torment in Hades (Luke 16:22–23), will be given resurrected bodies fit for eternity. 

We need to also understand that, according to verse 29 and various other passages, that these are two separate physical resurrections.  One is for life and the other is for judgment.  Even in Revelation 20.4-6, we see that there is a large span of time between the two physical resurrections.  The righteous will be resurrected before the Millennium; whereas, the wicked will be resurrected after the Millennium and experience the Great White Throne Judgment.  This is not a judgment to see if they can get into heaven.  It appears from here and other passages that this is to show God’s justice and that nothing that was done in the flesh could get them into heaven.  In addition, this may be where there are levels or degrees of punishment.  1 Corinthians 15.22-24 also speaks of a time sequence in the physical resurrections.  

Let me take just a brief amount of time and remind us of what the Bible teaches regarding the resurrection of followers of God.  According to 1 Thessalonians 4.16, it appears that all those who are part of the church, (Pentecost until the Rapture), will be resurrected at the Rapture.  Next, it seems that all of those who had followed God that are not part of the Church, (Old Testament saints and those who are saved during the time of the Tribulation), will be resurrected.  As for those who may die during the Millennium, Scripture seems to be silent.   However, I don’t want us to get hung up on these details.  The important question for everyone to answer is “What is your destination?”  God has everything figured out; we can trust Him.

There are those who feel that Christ should have spelled out the specifics here, but that would miss the point and is unnecessary.  Jesus is letting the religious leaders, who thought they had the power and the answers, know that He is the One with the power and authority.  

Next, we see the phrase, hear His voice again.  However, this time, it has nothing to do with belief.  It refers to the fact that He is God and is giving a command.  There will not be a choice.  Every single body will rise.  But what is the purpose?

This final resurrection is where the ultimate destination will be experienced by everyone.  For the believer in Christ, there is the glorious privilege and joy of being forever in God’s presence.  Yet, for the unbeliever, there is only the torturous experience of eternal suffering and punishment of God’s judgment.  

There are some that jump at this verse and attempt to convince people that it proves works and good deeds have an impact on one’s eternal destiny.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Salvation is always God’s work.  Even our good works are designed by God for His glory, according to Ephesians 2.10.  However, for the one who is truly saved, good works will be a part of all that we do.  It is proof of our salvation.  For the individual who has rejected Christ, their works can only be evil.  According to the Old and New Testament, works reveal what is in the heart.  A person’s heart condition is seen by their works.  That doesn’t mean an unbeliever cannot do good things.  However, they’re not doing it for the glory of God.   Another commentator remarked:  good deeds reveal the presence or absence of salvation, but do not produce it. They are its effect, not its cause.  Gerald Borchert makes a further emphasis on this:  Because . . . believing is often superficial (cf. 2:23–25), the integrity of believing is to be judged by a person’s activity, not merely by what a person says. 

I would add that this passage should be an assurance to the believer, as well as a warning to those who are playing the role of Christian.  Remember, Jesus is addressing people who would have been at church every Sunday if it were today.  He is talking to people who would be in leadership and very vocal about their supposed commitment to God.  Beware of a false assurance, where you have tried to fit the Christian walk into something palatable for you, rather than surrendering to Jesus as Lord of all.

Reflections

Is all this talk about the resurrection really that important?  Absolutely!  According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15.16-19, without the resurrection, there is no hope or need for faith in Christ:  if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Billy Graham has stated:  When we are called before God and His throne of judgment, it will be too late to reverse our decision. It is during our lifetime here on earth that we decide our eternal destiny.

Let’s go back to that list of questions from earlier, as we crossed the border into Canada. How might they look like if they were asked about our eternal destiny?

“What is your destination?”  To which, we’ll say, “Heaven and the presence of Jesus Christ.” 

“What is your purpose?”  We’ll respond by saying, “To worship Jesus.” 

“How long will you be there?”  Our answer will be, “Eternity; for ever and ever.” 

“Do you have anything of value to declare?”  Our response will be, “These white robes of righteousness which Jesus gave to me when He took away all my sins and all my guilt.”

Our hope in the resurrection gives us a strong desire to live for Christ today.  It motivates us to proclaim Christ to others so they may experience that spiritual resurrection and eventually one day that physical resurrection to life eternal with Christ. 

We need to know where we’re heading and why; and then point others to that same destination.