Two weeks ago, we learned that Ariel Castro, the Ohio man who kidnapped and raped three women, and held them captive in his home for a decade, committed suicide in prison. After admitting to all of the charges brought against him in court, he was sentenced to life in prison and then 1,000 years for his crimes.

Castro likely committed suicide thinking that death would allow him to escape the judgment for his crimes. However, his death only drew him closer to his final judgment before the Judge of the universe. Ariel Castro went to meet his Maker a few weeks ago.

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Castro will not have another chance to live his life or undo his deeds. He has gone to answer for what he did. The Bible says in First Peter 4:5 that everyone “shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

No matter our status in this life, no matter how good and moral we are, no matter how much success we have, we will each go to meet our Maker when we die. Each of us has an appointment with the Creator of the universe. Revelation 20:12-13 describes this great meeting. The apostle John writes, “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books…And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”

The only thing that will matter once you have gone to meet God is whether or not your name is written in the “book of life” mentioned in these verses. Those who do not have their name written in the book of life will face eternal punishment in Hell as described in verse 15 of this very same passage: “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

What happens to those who do have their names written in the book of life? Well, the Bible tells us that God will create a “new heaven and a new earth” in which God will dwell with His people and wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 21:27 says, “And there shall in no wise enter into [the new heaven and new earth] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Those who have their names written in the book of life will go to live with God forever in the new Heaven and the new Earth.

It would be terrible to know this truth, and yet attend your meeting with God unprepared. How can you have your name written in the book of life? Thankfully, God has made this simple for us. Jesus Christ said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Quite simply, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is the way by which we get our names written in the book of life.

Because of our sins, the wrong things that we do, we are automatically separated from God. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Because of our sinfulness, we are automatically destined to spend eternity in Hell.

However, because God loves us, He decided to make a way for us to not have to go to Hell for all eternity. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus Christ came to earth, lived the perfect life that we could not live, and then went to the cross, dying a cruel death for our sins. While Jesus was on the cross, God poured out all of his wrath and punishment on His Son so He would not have to pour it out on us. As Romans 5:8 says, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

After Jesus’ death on the cross, he was buried, but three days later, he rose again from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead showed that he had been triumphant over Hell and death. Thus, if we place our faith and trust in Him, we can also triumph over Hell and death. If we place our faith and trust in Him, our names will be written in the book of life.

I do not know the spiritual state of Ariel Castro. But, I do know that if you are listening to me right now, you have an opportunity to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. You can be prepared to meet your Maker with joy, and not with fear. Please don’t waste this opportunity. Place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today by believing that he died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you accept Jesus Christ into your heart, you will begin a relationship with God that will last for eternity. If you want to begin this relationship right now, you can pray a short prayer right now to let God know that you have decided to trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour so that you can spend eternity with him. Please repeat after me and mean it from your heart.

Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today and forever. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You!