I have been asked many times by friends what happens to us when we die? Where do we go? what happens if we don't believe in God!  But we have already seen that salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ. But does this mean that non-Christians have no opportunity for salvation? Will some people miss out on eternal life simply because they were born into the wrong religion, or grew up in a part of the world that does not know Jesus Christ? The apostle Peter wrote that God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance and baptism are prerequisites for eternal life (Acts 2:38). We have already seen that only those who are Christ's are given eternal life at His coming. So how does God give others who have never known Jesus Christ the opportunity to receive salvation? And what about those brought up in the Christian faith who did not live long enough to repent and receive the Holy Spirit? It is comforting to know that God thinks of everybody. In His plan for mankind, all have an opportunity for salvation, for eternal life. - Deborah Hamilton  

God's promise to overcome death

Job asked this all-important question: "If a man dies, shall he live again?" He also answers it: "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee . . ." (Job 14:14-15, King James Version, emphasis added throughout).

Job knew that he could look forward to a change to eternal life, but he also knew that it was a long way off. In fact, Job is still waiting, thousands of years later.

Writing in the New Testament, the apostle Paul looked forward to the future time of change, when some will receive eternal life.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Note that "the dead in Christ will rise first." These are those throughout history who faithfully served Him in life and now sleep in the grave. Immediately after them will be Jesus' followers who are alive at the time of His return. Salvation is only possible through Jesus Christ. ". . . For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Jesus Christ Himself rose from the dead. Writing to the skeptical Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminded them of this fact. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming" (1 Corinthians 15:22-23).

Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, so His followers can also look forward to eternal life with Him. In the words of Jesus Christ: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

Paul wrote the following words to the Romans: ". . . If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit [which] dwells in you . . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:11, 14).

Paul reminded the Corinthians that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption." He explained to his readers that "we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet [when Christ returns]. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory'" (1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

ST PETER

Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quarternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals: And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord and they went out and passed on through one street and forthwith the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

Matthew 7:7

'Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

DANIEL IN THE LIONS DEN

The King of Babylon, King Belshazzar, died, and Darius the Mede became the new king.

King Darius decided to appoint a hundred and twenty supervisors and governors to help rule over his kingdom. And he made Daniel and two others their boss. The other supervisors and governors didn’t like it. Daniel worked harder, and did much better work than any of them. The King was so impressed he was going to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom.

“We have to do something about this Daniel,” the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials said to themselves. But no matter how hard they looked, they couldn’t find anything wrong with Daniel because Daniel was completely faithful and honest in everything he did.

“Maybe we can use his religion against him,” they said.
And so they came up with a devious plan.

They came before King Darius one day and said, “King Darius! May you live forever! (although each one of them was probably really thinking, 'May you die tomorrow - so I can become King!'). All of us who help to rule your kingdom; the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials, think that it would be very wise of you to issue a command that for thirty days no one should be able to ask for anything from any god or man except you, O Great and Mighty King. And if anyone should ask for anything from any god or man besides you, they should be thrown into the lions’ den.”

King Darius accepted the idea of the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials, and signed the decree.

It became a law of the Medes and Persians that could not be changed.

Daniel heard the King’s decree, but still, the next morning he went to his window to pray, just as he did every morning, noon and night.

This was exactly what the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials were looking for. They went straight to the king.

“Your Majesty, may you live forever!” they said. “Didn’t you sign a decree that said for thirty days no one should ask for anything from any god or man except you, O Great and Mighty King. And if anyone should ask for anything from any god or man besides you, they should be thrown into the lions’ den?”

“Yes,” said the king. “It is a law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be changed.”

Then the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials said, “We saw Daniel praying to his God this very morning! He does not respect you or your order.”

When King Darius heard this news he was very sad. He knew that Daniel was a good and honest man, who served him faithfully. And so he worked into the night, trying to find some way to rescue Daniel. But he couldn’t.

The supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials came back the next morning and demanded, “Your Majesty, you know a law of the Medes and Persians can never be changed. Daniel must be thrown into the lions’ den!” Which was just what they wanted all along.

And so, the king had no choice but to have Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. The King said to Daniel, “May the God whom you serve so faithfully save you!”

And then the king’s men grabbed Daniel and threw him into a pit filled with pacing, roaring, hot-breathed lions.

They rolled a stone over the mouth of the den, and the King sealed it with his royal seal, so that no one could move the stone and rescue Daniel.

That night, the king could not sleep at all.

The first thing the next morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise, the king ran to the lions’ den.

He shouted out, “Daniel! servant of the living God! Was the God you serve so faithfully able to save you from the lions’ jaws?

“Daniel...?”

“May your majesty live forever!” Daniel called from inside the lions’ den. “God sent his angel to shut the lions mouths all through the night. God has saved me so that you will know that I am innocent, and I have served you faithfully!”

The king was so happy. Immediately he ordered his servants to pull Daniel from the lions’ den. There wasn’t even a scratch on him. Everyone saw that Daniel had trusted God, and God had saved him.

And then the king sent for all the supervisors, the governors, the lieutenant governors, and all the other officials who had accused Daniel. They were in trouble now! Right then and there, the king had them arrested and thrown into lions’ den themselves.

The lions were not so friendly this time.

Then King Darius issued a new decree. It said,

“Greetings, people of all nations, races, and languages!
I, King Darius, decree that all people everywhere should honor and fear the God that Daniel serves so faithfully.

He is the living God
who rules for all time.
His kingdom will never end,
and his power will last forever.

He rescues and he saves.
He can do mighty things,
for he has saved Daniel from
the lions’ jaws!”

Once again, Daniel was faithful.

And God was able to show us that he is always able to do great and wonderful things.