When God created the human race, he had a big vision in mind. He placed part of Himself within each of us—something called our soul. And since God will always exist, so will we. Our bodies will expire, but our soul will continue on. We wonder about life after death because of what God placed inside of us and because our soul is greater than this finite world. Some people try to ignore God’s plan, but it’s still there. The Bible sums up what God did and our limited view of it: “He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Our belief in the afterlife doesn’t have to be based on a wish. Instead, the proof you’re looking for is found in Jesus Christ. After he died, his body was sealed inside a guarded tomb. It remained there for a few days, but then something happened. Jesus came back to life, hundreds of people saw him alive, and he demonstrated there really is life after death!

Not only that, Jesus told us what he would be doing after his death. When Jesus was unfairly sentenced to death, two others were sentenced with him. As they hung on their crosses, one of the men said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42). Jesus answered him, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Jesus died that day but we know he went to paradise afterward.

You have a soul and it doesn’t end with the death of your body. The resurrection of Jesus not only provided evidence of the afterlife but also offered the opportunity to be with Him in paradise. Don’t leave any chance of spending forever in hell. Give your life to Jesus and trust your soul to him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25).