What is it to perish?

When an elastic band becomes useless, we consider it perished. It still exists, but is of no use. Many would suggest that when we die, that is the end of our existence and we have no more consciousness. However, the Bible gives us God's view on this matter.

While the Lord Jesus walked this earth He related a story of a rich man and a beggar called Lazarus. Though poor, Lazarus trusted in God and when he died he was taken to heaven. In his life, the rich man had no regard for God, and when he died he went to hell. From hell the rich man lived in torment, and was very conscious of his existence...he was literally perishing. Furthermore, there was a huge gulf fixed, so the rich man could not cross from hell to heaven. He even pleaded with God to send someone back from the dead to earth so that his friends did not befall the same torment as he did.

Thankfully, we need not perish, and furthermore God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and has made the way possible that we need not perish. This is through His Son, Jesus Christ. If you believe on the Lord Jesus, you shall be saved from perishing!