What Will Happen to Me?

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15, NKJV.

After listening to a Christian named Tracy* share about original sin, Christ’s atonement and the Christian’s hope of heaven, a monk asked, “What happens after heaven?”

Tracy got a confused look on his face, and said, “There is nothing after heaven. Heaven does not end. It is eternal.”

The monk then explained, “Buddhists believe in going to heaven, but you do not stay in heaven. You might visit for 50 or 60 years between rebirths, but heaven is temporary.” After the monk’s comment another Buddhist who was listening explained about several different types of reincarnation.

In response Tracy said, “The Bible teaches that man only lives one life, and then faces the judgment of God. We don’t believe in multiple lives.”

“If what the Christians believe is true,” asked the monk. “Then what will happen to me when I die?”

“If you do not change directions and start following Jesus, trusting Him to make the merit that you need for salvation, then you will be separated from God and heaven forever,” said Tracy. “You will be put into a place of punishment made for Lucifer and his fallen angels.”

“How do I know this Christian way is true?” asked the monk.

“That is an age-old question: what is truth?” Tracy replied. “I would suggest to you that truth is absolute and independent of what either of us believes. You see this stone pillar? I can believe that it’s not real. My belief can be very sincere, but if I try to walk through the pillar it will soon become apparent that I am sincerely wrong in my belief! Truth does not bend to our desires; it simply is what it is. As seekers of truth, we must remain open and willing to examine the varying claims of truth. Then we must be convinced in our hearts as to what is true, and follow that truth even if it means making radical changes to the direction we were headed in before. If we are going to be condemned, let us be condemned for following an informed belief of truth. Jesus said, ‘I am the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the Father, but through Me.’”

“What you say seems very interesting to me. Your thinking is good. I will have to think more about these things,” said the monk.

*Name changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

This monk will come to know Jesus as the way, truth and life.

Buddhists in the Pacific Rim will become open to the radical change in their concept of truth that the Gospel presents.

Believers in the Pacific Rim will share the truth in love with their Buddhist friends and family.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.