Where will you spend eternity?

Our subject is, Where Will You Spend Eternity? You will find the text in John 16:5, “Whither goest thou?” Jesus Christ was about to leave this world, He told the disciples that He was going, but none of them asked Him where He was going. He reproved them for not asking. Well He might, for the most important question that can face any man when he comes to leave this present world is “Where are you going?”

First of all, REMEMBER THAT THERE IS AN ETERNITY. That is certain. We may try to shut our eyes to the fact, but the fact stands. Look ahead – you may live five years, ten years, twenty years, thirty, forty, fifty years. But then what? The fifty years will soon be gone. Then what? ETERNITY! On it stretches before us, on and on and on. Never ending centuries will roll on, ages roll on, but still eternity stretches on and on. It will stretch on forever, never any nearer an end. Oh, thank God for eternity! If I knew I were to live a thousand years it would not satisfy me. I would always be thinking of the end that would come some time. I am glad that as I look out into the future I see an eternity that has absolutely no end. There is an eternity.

In the second place, REMEMBER YOU MUST SPEND THAT ETERNITY SOMEWHERE. The time will never come when you cease to exist. You will be somewhere throughout all eternity.

Remember in the third place that the question of WHERE YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY is vastly more important than the question of WHERE YOU WILL SPEND YOUR PRESENT LIFE. Suppose I am taking a day’s journey to a place where I will spend forty years. Which is the more important, the comfort which I have as I travel or the comfort which I have when I get there? This life is a day’s journey to an endless eternity.

The next point to consider is that IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US TO KNOW WHERE WE SHALL SPEND ETERNITY. Jesus knew where He would spend eternity. He said, “I go… to him that sent me;” (John 16:5). Paul knew where he would spend eternity. He said, “For me… to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). And again, “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” (Philippians 1:23).

The fifth fact to bear in mind is that WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN ONE OF TWO PLACES – IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL. Heaven is a place of holiness, happiness and love. Hell is a place of violence, misery and hate. In one or the other you and I shall spend eternity. With Christ or with the devil. With the holy and pure, or with the wicked, the blasphemous, the vile. Which will it be for all eternity?

Just one more point. WHERE YOU SPEND ETERNITY WILL BE DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS CHRIST. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you will spend eternity with Him. If you reject Jesus Christ you will spend eternity away from Him. Listen to the sure Word of God, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). Listen again, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Where we spend eternity will be determined by what we do with Jesus Christ in this present life.

There is an eternity and we must spend that eternity somewhere. The question of where you will spend eternity is vastly more important than the question of where you will spend your present life. It is possible for us to know where we will spend eternity; it will be in one of two places. Where we spend eternity will be settled in this present life and will be determined by what you do with Jesus Christ. My friend, where are you going? Where will you spend eternity?