When my dear mother died in my arms, where did she go? Does death end all? Is there a hereafter? If so, do all go to the same place when they pass on? I trust that you will read on, for I have the answers, beyond a shadow of a doubt!

There are many cowards today when it comes to eternal matters. They are afraid to face the stark facts concerning death and the great hereafter. You can recognize them by their talk. They claim that once you're dead that's the end of you - there is no such thing as passing from your body into another world. Consequently they think that they can live, satisfying every desire of their sinful flesh, with no God to meet and no judgment to face. Like the ostrich, they have buried their head in the sand - afraid to even consider for one moment this solemn truth. I hope that you are different, and that you will give me five minutes to prove some vital truths concerning this important matter.

Do you have a soul? If so, then there is a hereafter! Through scientific research an answer was sought. In 1907, Dr. Duncan MacDougal of Haverhill, Massachusetts conducted a series of experiments at a large hospital. A bed containing a dying patient was placed onto a large, sensitively-balanced platform-beam scale. At the precise moment of death the intricate scale showed a 3/4-ounce weight loss. Five more terminal patients were similarly weighed over the next three years; each showed a weight loss of 3/8 ounce to 1 1/2 ounces. The same experiment was performed on 15 dogs. Not one showed any weight loss. Even though man's soul is not composed of material substance (thus weightless), through this phenomena, Dr. MacDougal concluded that man is different than a mere animal - thus he must have a soul.

YOUR DEPARTURE

However, let me give you far greater proof than mere medical science tries to present. God's infallible Word speaks of man as a tripartite being composed of spirit, soul and body (1 Thess. 5:23). Your spirit is that which is related to divine influence - your God consciousness. Your soul is the seat of your affections, desires and emotions. In other words, your spirit and soul are the real YOU! Your body is the material organism animated by soul and spirit. Soul and spirit are tied together, and people who have died are spoken of in both terms. God describes Rachel's experience by saying, "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died)" (Gen. 35:18). "The body without the spirit is dead" (Jas. 2:26). By this we see that death severs the soul and spirit from the body. The body lies still in death, but the real person moves on. Yes, some day you, too, shall move on - but where?

YOUR DESTINY

The soul never sleeps, but departs to one of two destinies, taking all of its body senses with it. The Lord Jesus proves this, telling of a rich man who died and was buried. He says, "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." He then reveals this departed man's plea, "Cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame" (Lk. 16:23,24). His body was dead-cold and stiff in the grave - yet he possessed in his soul all of its senses and feelings.

Now turn to a brighter picture. The apostle Paul speaks of his death as a departure (2 Tim. 4:6). He longed to go, saying, "I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" (Phil. 1:23). In Hebrews 12:23 we have "the spirits of just men made perfect" with the angels in heaven. In Revelation 7 we see in heaven a great multitude which no man could number, and they are fully conscious - praising God.

YOUR DELIVERANCE

I trust that you can see now by the evidence of Holy Scripture, that you are going to be either in heaven (in bliss) or hell (in torments) for all eternity. What puts a soul in hell? - its sins! Unless forgiven by God, the sins committed in your body will, without doubt, plunge your soul into torments. "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Christ said, "Fear Him (God), which after he hath killed (bodily death) hath power to cast into hell" (Lk. 12:5). These are fearful truths and consequences which I hope you are willing to face and do something about.

Banish the thought that God wants souls in hell! Quite the contrary - He wants them in heaven. However, divine justice demands punishment for sin, therefore the only escape for you is to have a sin-bearing substitute. God has in love provided One. "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 Jn. 4:14). In obedience to His Father, the Son of God went to Calvary and shed His blood on the Cross to satisfy God's claims against us. "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor. 15:3).

Having "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb. 9:26), he ascended back to His Father and beckons you now to accept Him as your substitute. This simple act of faith will link you with Him, and you will be saved, for "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (Jn. 3:36). That's what my mother did - and now she's in heaven. Her religion and good works couldn't save her, but Christ did! He saved me and He is able to save you, too! Are you willing to rest on Him for salvation? If so, heaven will be your eternal home; if not - yours will be constant remorse - throughout eternity.