What If We Die Before Coming Back?

In the case of the prodigal son, the son came back to the Father, but what if the son had died before he came back to his father? What if a Christian who left his faith died before he returned to his faith? Would he go to heaven or to hell?

Q. I recently read your article on Hebrews, Part 4, and a question came to my mind. As in the case of the prodigal son, the son came back to the Father, but what if the son had died before he came back to his father? What if a Christian who left his faith died before he returned to his faith? Would he go to heaven or to hell?

A. The whole point of eternal security is that once you’re saved you’re always saved. You don’t give it up and then take it back. The prodigal left his father’s house but he never stopped being his father’s son. Jesus said that he would never lose even one of those that are given to Him. (John 6:39) We’re saved because of what we believe not because of how we behave, so regardless of our behavior, once we’re His we’re always His.