“If a man die, shall he live again?” —Job 14:14

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Bill is standing outside the entrance of the funeral home chatting with an old friend. Suddenly an ear-splitting scream penetrates the cold night air. He rushes in and runs the red-carpet aisle past the long row of pews. He sees eight-year-old Johnny Smith, his deceased brother’s son, on his knees. There are tears streaming down Johnny’s face, dropping gently to the floor. The gray metallic casket remains closed because of the appalling condition of the body inside.

Johnny cries out, “Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill, where is my dad? Where is he? Did he go to hell? Will I ever see him again? I didn’t get to tell him goodbye!” Bill drops his head. He has no words of encouragement for Johnny. Bill’s brother lived a life of alcohol and drug abuse. At the age of twenty-nine, his brother is, dead and gone, but the idea haunts Bill…Where is Tommy?

Be assured my friend, this difficult problem may also confront us one day. How will we respond? Remember, we have an appointment with a Holy God.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” — Hebrews 9:27

Dear reader, the time of death and departure may be closer than we think. Hell is enlarging itself to accommodate the overflowing stream of procrastinators and Christ rejecters who fall into it. Good works cannot keep us out of hell. Church membership and baptism will not keep us out of that horrible place. All Christ rejecters will enter hell as an uninvited guest.

The next day at the gravesite Johnny watches his dad’s casket descend into the cold, dark earth, as he cries, “Where is my dad? Where did he go?”

Please consider, my friend, where you are spiritually at this moment? The right decision must be made before we go into eternity. There are no second chances after we take that last breath on earth. Heaven or hell is the only two possible choices. Which one will it be? The ball is in your court. What on earth is worth sacrificing heaven’s eternal glories?

At the gravesite Johnny’s question still rings in our ears, “Where is my dad, where did he go?” After the burial, Johnny walks away from the gravesite and back to one of the cars in the funeral procession. “Johnny Smith, where are you? Who is Johnny Smith?” a man cries out suddenly. Johnny hollers, “Hey Mister, that’s me!” The man is breathless and smiles broadly at Johnny. He reaches in his inside coat pocket, and hands Johnny a wrinkled, soiled envelope.

Questioning the man Johnny says, “Is this for me? What is it?” The man clutches Johnny’s hand, and apologizes for showing up late at the gravesite. “I am Brother Dan, a preacher from the downtown Gospel Mercy Mission. I promised your Dad I would get this letter to you, if anything ever happened to him.”

“Thanks a lot, Preacher,” says Johnny. The preacher apologizes and says he must go back to the mission to help with meal preparation for the dinner meeting. “Come visit me Johnny. I will show you where your dad found something he always wanted.” “I will,” shouts Johnny, as the preacher walks toward his old van preparing to leave. “Uncle Bill,” says Johnny, “Why don’t we go over to that shade tree yonder, and you can read the letter to me.” Uncle Bill says, “Sure Johnny.”

Johnny wipes a tear off his rosy cheek as they walk to the shade tree. “Read Dad’s letter, Uncle Bill.” Johnny’s eyes now sparkle with anticipation. “Let’s sit here on this bench.” Uncle Bill opens the tattered envelope and unfolds the soiled and stained paper. Johnny wipes his nose with his shirt sleeve as Bill begins to read.