LE RENDEZ-VOUS INÉVITABLE (JOUR 8 - 21 jours de jeûne et de prière)

Writing:

Hebrews 9:27 «It is appointed for mankind to die once, and after that to face judgment.»

Supporting verses: 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:12, Revelation 20:12

MEDITATION

One of the most effective lies of our time is also one of the simplest: after death, there is nothing. This lie is comfortable. It soothes consciences. It allows us to live without urgency, without accountability, without an eternity to consider. We blow out the candle of life and it's extinguished. It has infiltrated everywhere: into education, into the media, into everyday conversations.

And sometimes, even subtly, in the minds of some believers. They assume that everything will work out somehow. This is partly due to the fact that we are not sufficiently convinced of the imperative nature of salvation. Jesus' suffering to save us was not optional. And the consequences of rejecting his salvation are real.

But Scripture leaves no room for this illusion. In Hebrews 9, the author draws a solemn parallel. Christ offered himself once, definitively and sufficiently, just as man lives his earthly life only once. And this life is followed not by nothingness, but by a meeting.

«"It is appointed for human beings to die only once, after which comes judgment."»

Death is not presented as a possibility. It is a given. It awaits us. It marks the end of the time for choices. And what follows is not a possibility of return. What follows is judgment. Just as Jesus cannot sacrifice Himself a second time, humanity cannot return a second time.

But that's not all. The judgment is presented as an absolute certainty that occurs following death. There is no time for redemption after death. Therefore, there is no possibility of repentance or changing one's ways after death. What we have become in this life meets the holiness of God.

So we see that even if our era refuses to face reality, we cannot escape it. There is a collective blindness, as if we were performing a play where death is merely an exit, without any real consequence. We bury our dead without asking ourselves what becomes of them. Yet we will all die one day. Personally, these questions have always intrigued me. From childhood, I wondered about death, I wanted to know: What happens to these people who disappear?

What this means for the lost

If the Word of God is true, and it is, then billions of people are heading toward a reckoning for which they are unprepared. They will discover they have missed the mark; indeed, that is the literal meaning of the word "sin" in Greek. They will have no defense.

«"So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).

Those who know do not have the luxury of silence. They must warn them so that they do not wake up to a reality they had denied, without any recourse.

The good news

But the following verse offers a solid hope:

«So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.» (Hebrews 9:28)

The judgment is certain. But for those who are in Christ, the verdict has already been pronounced.

«"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Christ bore our sins. He suffered judgment in our place. Those who know him do not fear this encounter. They are confident.

We must therefore spread the gospel so that people may be saved. Even those who are blind can see and receive Jesus and eternal life. But the time is now, in this life. Afterwards, it will be too late.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

Do I live with the awareness that every person I meet has an appointment with judgment?
Has the lie of "nothing after death" affected my own urgency to evangelize?
Those who know don't have the luxury of silence. Who should I warn?

PRAYER

Father, I refuse to believe the lies of my time. Death is not the end. Judgment is coming. This truth does not paralyze me—it motivates me. For I know that people around me are heading toward that appointment unprepared. Give me the courage to tell them the truth. Not to frighten them, but to warn them. During this fast, may the urgency of the coming judgment shape my priorities. In Jesus' name, amen.