1
John Wilcox’s pain was overwhelming even with the meds they
were pumping into his body. With his family around he finally succumbed to the
cancers that had ravaged his organs for the last year. With a shudder his last
breath wheezed past his chapped lips and he died.
His wife and adult children all hugged and cried assuring
each other that he was now in a better place.
John was aware that even in his pain he was no longer in the
hospital, he could not hear the sounds of the medical equipment nor the soft
sobs and whispers of his family. He could not see anything and for a moment a
panic rose in him that he was now blind, but like not being in the hospital
that did not make sense. He had to be in the hospital but the voices, if you
could call them that, were low tones of anguish and pain. As he reached out to
feel where he was he realized that there were no IV lines attached and that he
was actually standing up.
“What!” was all he could think, “what was going on, why was
he still in pain, if he had died as he had felt he had than where was he? Was
this heaven?” If so it was what not what he thought heaven would be like the
few times he had thought about it.
He realized that he felt hot, not the 115o heat
of the Arizona desert, but a burning heat that felt like it was consuming him. Yet
he could not feel any flames, he started to move and he could as he walked
nothing changed. He was still in the excruciating pain of the cancer that had
killed him, for he was dead. On top of that he now was being consumed by some
flameless fire, he could not see, he could walk and move around but felt
exhausted. John decided to sit down and rest after walking for an
undeterminable amount of time.
The surface was hot and hard to the touch, he could not get
comfortable either sitting or laying down. John was miserable and uncomfortable
and he cried out in desperation. The sound was not normal even for his gravelly
cancer distorted voice.
“Hell!” this must be hell he thought and a great cry of
anguished laughter rose in the atmosphere around him and died away to the
continuous murmur he had been hearing since he was aware that he had died.
John knew that he had died and that he was in hell, “What
now?” he asked himself. He called out “Hello?” but got no response.
2
John’s wife Sarah was sad as she and the children finished
the arrangements for John’s memorial and funeral services. Pastor Jack would
officiate at both, she knew he was a good man but she wondered if he would be
able to answer the many questions about heaven and hell that would come up.
John Jr. and Beth, Elizabeth, would have questions because
of the differing beliefs of their parents and that John and Sarah did not push
their beliefs on their children.
Pastor Jack Munson was a good man and as a born again
Christian who had been in the ministry for twenty years and pastured New
Beginnings Faith Church for the past five years he knew he was ready to
officiate for his first funeral. Knowing that the day was approaching when
Sarah asked him about a week before John passed, he had been seeking the
guidance of Holy Spirit to give him the words of comfort and truth that John’s
family and friends needed. Not having any personal experience with kind of loss
he knew that he would need GOD’s
guidance to minister truth with mercy.
Jacks friends were a mixed bag, Frank Nusom his neighbor was
a staunch Baptist and had told John regularly that he needed to repent of his sinful
ways. His fishing buddy Ralph Whines was a beer guzzling, cursing, never
married believer of self and everybody that knew him, knew it. Sally Mayfield
from work was a heterosexual woman libber who preached woman’s equality while
sleeping with any man she thought could help her get ahead.
John himself while he loved his wife and children was a self
professed atheist. He put up with his wife’s faith in Jesus because he had no
doubt that while Jesus might have been a good man he was not a god of any kind
and so it did not matter what she believed about him. Sarah went to a
contemporary church called World Vision Church, they had a very large
congregation that supported the view of one world government and one world
church. While she had grown up a Catholic she had always struggled with the
concept of saints, angels, heaven, hell and eternal punishment. She believed that
GOD who was love and
benevolent would not send anyone to hell but that everyone would go to heaven
except the most wicked people, like Hitler, who would just die and be no more.
John Jr. was not an atheist but he did not believe in GOD either. He liked parting
with his college friends and having sex with as many women as possible. Beth
was the only one who truly believed in Jesus as the Son of GOD but she was too timid to
talk to her parents or brother about Him. They knew she was a Christian and
went to pastor Jack’s Church, she was the one who talked her mother into asking
him to officiate her father’s services.
3
The day of John’s memorial and funeral arrived four days
after he passed. Most of the arrangements had been made in advance and Pastor
Jack only had get everything scheduled and announced. It was a beautiful
Thursday in the spring with a 1:00 memorial, a 2:30 funeral and a 3:30 wake at
the World Vision Church’s hall.
The mortuary staff was very subdued and professional as
always when tending to the needs of a family in grief. After the director welcomed everyone, Pastor
Jack would have a small message and then anyone who wanted would speak about
John. The hearse and limo ride to the cemetery followed by the graveside
service would also be short where again Pastor Jack would speak then Sarah
would say a few words. Then everyone would proceed to the wake where food and
tokens of appreciation were waiting.
As 1:00 approached there were about two dozen family and
friends in the sanctuary, exactly at 1:00 the soft organ music stopped and the
funeral director greeted those in attendance thanking them for attending John
Wilcox’s memorial service and introduced Pastor Jack.
He stepped to the podium and thanked everyone for attending
the memorial service for John. “Today we remember John Wilcox as family and
friend, he was born on July 1st of 1970, he served in the US Army
from 1988 to 1991. He and Sarah were married in December of 1991. He is
survived by his wife Sarah and children John Jr. and Elizabeth, his brother Sam
and their mother Barbara.”
“John was a loving husband and father, a popular coworker
and an avowed atheist. He lived his life to the fullest until he was diagnosed
with cancer last year, I know he will be missed by us all. The problem with
John’s passing is that he did not believe in GOD he was not an angry against GOD atheist, he just ignored GOD and the eternal life that
He offers all who believe in Jesus. Sarah, John Jr., Beth, Sam, Barbara and
friends of John, the comfort that we seek at a time of loss like this is only
found in knowing that there is a GOD and that He had a plan for our eternal life not just our
natural life. This is the only comfort that will give us peace during our time
of loss and grief. If any of you have any questions I will be available to
answer them after the service.”
“Now Sarah wants to say a few words and then if anyone of
the family or friends would like you may take to few moments to speak about
John and what he meant to you.”
Sarah came to the podium and composing herself she spoke of
their love and 21 years of marriage, John’s devotion to her and their children.
She told a humorous story of a camping trip when John fell into the stream
while fishing from a steep bank. “He was not injured and he caught the fish.”
After the laughs she thanked everyone for coming and sat down.
After a moment the director got up and asked if anyone else
wanted to share. After another minute Ralph got up and talked about what a
great friend John had been to him. Several times John had helped him move and
he told the story of the time they tried kayak fishing from a two man kayak,
never to try that again. Next Sally talked about how polite and helpful John
was at work, that he never made any of the women in the office feel
uncomfortable. Sam talked about some of their boyhood antics and how the first
time they went fishing with their dad John just loved it and from then on when
as often as he could.
When it was clear that no one else was going to get up and
share the director thanked everyone on behalf of the family for attending and
sharing. He told them the procession to the cemetery would leave in 20 minutes.
Pastor Jack stood off to the side in case anyone had a question. While the pall
bearers and staff got the casket loaded into the hearse most people stood in
small groups and talked, the smokers went to the parking lot.
4
Everyone joined the procession to the cemetery and after the
pall bearers carried the casket to the grave site. Once everything was in order
and the family seated Pastor Jack spoke, “Family and friends of John Wilcox we
are here to intern his body to what we refer to as his final resting place. But
it really is not, the Bible teaches us that there will be a day when death,
hell and the seas will give up the dead for a final day of judgment before GOD. That each one who has died
will stand before Him and their eternity will be determined by whether they
loved GOD and believed in
Jesus Christ as their savior. On that day John’s body will be resurrected and
made eternal and joined with his eternal soul and spirit to be one whole man
again. He like all of us will then be judged from GOD’s Book of Life whether we spend our eternity in
Heaven or the lake of fire. Only those who believe in Jesus will find their
names written in the Book of Life and live for eternity in Heaven.”
Then he prayed, “Heavenly Father, today we ask you to search
our hearts and show us where we stand before you so that on that great day of
judgment we will be found in Your Book of Life. In Jesus Name, amen.” He nodded
to the ground keeper would started lowering John’s casket. Once it was lowered
each family member threw a handful of dirt on the casket.
Everyone started across to the parking lot for the drive to
the wake, several made remarks about Pastor Jack preaching at a funeral and a
couple made snide remarks about heaven and hell.
At the wake finger foods and punch were served and people
sat around and talked small talk. Ralph had a case of beer on ice in his car
and several people stood in the parking lot drinking. After about a half hour
most people started leaving, the Right Reverend William Blessing of the World
Vision Church spoke with Pastor Jack about what he said at the memorial and
burial services. “I’m a little appalled that you would make people feel guilty
by your single mindedness about salvation during a time like this. Even if the
man was an atheist you do not know if he went to hell, if there is even such a
place.” “Well actually I know for sure the John went to hell unless he
confessed his sins and asked GOD
to forgive him in Jesus. That is what the Bible teaches.” said Pastor Jack.
“The Bible,” Reverend William scoffed, “that’s not the only source of knowledge
about GOD you know.”
Pastor Jack replied, “While there are other books about GOD that is the only one that
is divinely inspired that teaches humanity about who GOD is, what He has done for man and what He
expects of man.”
“So you believe that Jesus only stuff?” asked the Reverend,
“Yes I do. If you don’t believe the Bible what do you use to study about GOD?” “Why I use the Koran and
the writings of Buddha, Gandhi and others as well as the Bible.” “So you don’t
believe the Bible is GOD’s divine word to humanity?” “No it was written by man
not GOD.” Pastor Jack
answered, “Actually all those books you mentioned were written by men, the only
difference is they were written by one man each during their lifetime and the
Bible was written by 40 men over a 1500 to 2000 year period and its message is
the same no matter what order you put them in.” “Well if you want to believe
that, that’s fine for you but I belong to a more enlightened religion.” snapped
the Reverend. “That’s too bad because Jesus is the only true source of light
for humanity.” “Good luck with your narrow minded thinking when you stand
before GOD.” the
Reverend replied. “Thanks,” said Pastor Jack, “since the Bible teaches true
followers are on the straight and narrow path to Heaven.” With that the
Reverend turned and headed for his office.
5
John Jr. drove his mother and sister home after having a
couple of beers in the parking lot. He had been a little taken aback by what
the pastor had said but some of the people were openly offended and took the
liberality of alcohol to lose their tongues. Ralph being the most vocal and
vulgar in his comments condemning the small minded and religious tone of the
pastor’s words. Especially at the grave site where he had the audacity to imply
that he needed to ask GOD
for forgiveness. “After all, it was GOD who gave John cancer and caused him to die such a horrible
death.”
John Jr. was not sure about GOD giving his dad cancer but didn’t the Bible say that
people could be healed by prayer? His mother had said enough prayers, the
universal good thoughts of the World Vision Church, even reverting to her
Catholic prayers. He planned to talk to his mother later, maybe tomorrow since
she was complaining about his drinking at the wake.
While Beth was sad to think that her dad would spend
eternity in hell she was glad of the clear message that her pastor and spoken
and asked the LORD to
give her wisdom and grace when talking to her mother and brother because she
planned to challenge them on their beliefs about GOD.
Sarah on the other hand was upset with John Jr. for drinking
but she was really concerned about what Pastor Jack had said. Was it possible
that John had gone to hell and that she would not see him in Heaven? Was it
possible that she would not go to heaven? As a child she had been baptized a
Catholic and had her First Communion but she did not like all that ritual,
repetitive prayers and confession. The World Vision Church was so much more
accepting and Reverend William never made you feel guilty for anything.
Pastor Jack drove home reviewing in his mind the events of
the afternoon. He felt good about the messages he spoke even though he had
heard a couple of snide remarks. But John’s neighbor Frank complimented him,
“he must be a Christian” he thought. He prayed for John’s family and for
Reverend William that man was walking in complete deception, he made a mental
note to add him to his prayer list and to invite him to join the city’s
pastor’s fellowship group, it would do him good to be around some “Bible
thumpers” if he would.
Reverend Williams chuckled to himself as he locked up his
office, the custodian had already cleaned the hall and locked the main
buildings and security was on site. “That Pastor Jack,” he thought, “what a
classic Bible thumper preaching Heaven and hell at a funeral. Did he think he
would get more parishioners that way? Oh well, time to go home and have
dinner.”
6
John was exhausted, in pain, hot beyond imagination and he
could never get comfortable, sitting or lying down. “How long had this been
going on? It seemed like an eternity.” He remembered his life and he could not
understand why he was in hell. He was an atheist but unlike most he did not
hate GOD he just did not
believe in Him so how could he be in hell? “I don’t believe in hell!” he
yelled. So if this wasn’t hell what was it, where was he? He was confused and
in constant torment. It felt like he imagined hell would be like expect there
were no demons with pitchforks poking him, “Thank GOD.”
All he did was walk, he never got anywhere, he never found
anybody, but he constantly heard the low mumbling tone of pain and sorrow that
permeated the atmosphere. “How long will this last? Forever? GOD I hope not!”
John realized that his voice was part of the oppressive
sound that he heard all the time, that when he was thinking “my every thought
is out loud! How? GOD
help me! Are You there?” All he heard over the always present sound of despair
was a sinister chuckle, like the devil was laughing at him, “but I don’t
believe in the devil.”
7
Beth woke up feeling great, she was confident that today was
the day of salvation for her family. As the three of them sat around the
kitchen table drinking their morning drinks Beth knew that she had to tell them
about Jesus but how to start the conversation. Then their mom said, “Do you
think your dad went to hell? I think that is what Pastor Jack was saying
yesterday.” she was looking back and forth at her children.
Beth overcome by her emotion choked back a sob as she said,
“Yes, I believe dad is in hell right now.” John Jr. said, “Why, he never did
anything bad to anybody. I never heard him cuss or even use Jesus’ name as a
curse word. Why would GOD
send him to hell?” Sarah said, “Reverend William says that no one goes to hell,
that all good and honest people go the Heaven and the bad people just die and
no longer exist.”
Beth cleared her throat, “The Bible says that everyone that
rejects Jesus as savior and LORD
will go to hell. That only those who ask GOD to forgive their sins in Jesus’ name and let His
Holy Spirit guide them in life will go to Heaven.” John Jr. asked, “Where does
it say that?” Beth quoted John 3:16-19, “For GOD so Loved the world that He gave His only Begotten
Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have ever lasting life. He
did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but the world through
Him might be saved. Those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who
do not believe are condemned already because they do not believe in the only
Begotten Son. And this is the condemnation, that Light came into the world but
men hated the light because their deeds were evil.”
Sarah nervously laughed, “But Reverend William says that
Jesus is not the only way to Heaven, there are many others like Mohammad or
Buddha.” Beth quickly interjected, “But, Jesus is the only one who said He
would die and come back to life, all the rest are still dead and their bodies
buried.” John Jr. said, “Well if you believe that really happened, but there is
no evidence.” “Yes there is,” Beth
replied, “there are several historical Jewish and Roman documents that tell
what happened to Jesus and that on the
third day His body was no longer in the tomb.”
“Well that’s fine and good but that doesn’t prove anything
today.” John Jr. said. “True that is where faith comes in, no religion offers
salvation as a gift from GOD. They all make you earn it and with no
guarantee that you will. That’s the difference, Christianity is not a religion
it is a relationship with the Living GOD.”
“How do you get that relationship?” Sarah asked. Beth said, “By
admitting that you cannot save yourself, that you are a sinner and asking GOD to forgive you in Jesus’
name and for His Holy Spirit to come into your life and guide you in serving GOD’s Kingdom.” “That sounds
like more work than just being good and not doing any evil.” Her mom said.
“Maybe, but the Bible is clear that salvation is the only way to heaven and
salvation is only in Jesus.”
“Well I have many things to do today. I have to find out
about your father’s Social Security and pension now that I have copies of his
death certificate. You two better think about getting back to school too.”
Sarah said.
8
Suddenly there was a horrendous sound, indescribably
frightening, John was shaking to the core of his very being, he was screaming
at the top of his lungs in total panic! “What’s happening, why is everything
louder, what am I afraid of?” Then a blinding light like a 1000 watt bulb was
right in his face.
He felt whole, complete, he realized he had a body again and
there was no longer any pain the constant sound of agony was gone. He was lying
on his belly face down and the light was so bright that he still could not see
anything but the light.
Then he heard the voice of GOD so thunderous that nothing else could be heard, so
loving to the point of sorrow as GOD passed eternal judgment on John Wilcox for rejecting His
Salvation, Jesus Christ.
John was overcome with sorrow for his sin and GOD’s just judgment, he finally
understood that GOD
loved him so much that He was born as a man so that He could overcome
temptation and sin for humanity, so that through Jesus Christ he could have
been saved from this moment of eternal condemnation.
The next thing John knew was that his life was passing
before him and GOD. Then
GOD spoke His final
judgment for John’s lifestyle, since John had always been a good man who loved
his family and helped everyone he had the opportunity too. Since he never tried
to turn anyone from their belief in GOD nor ever spoke evil of GOD there was no added punishment to his eternal
judgment.
John was suddenly in a great fire that burned like it was
consuming him yet he never deceased or decreased he just kept burning and he
knew it was forever.
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