The topic of what happens after death is a sensitive one. Thomas Jefferson once said that, "the only things that are sure in life are death and taxes." While I won't get into tax legislation here, I will hopefully help you think through the idea of what happens when you die.

This question has a lot to do with how you view reality and the world in which we live. If this is it, then there is nothing after death. We are all buried and get eaten by worms.

I would suggest that it might not be that simple. I can't help but to think that by the very fact that we raise the question of what happens after we die presents logical proof that some part of us may exist after death. Why would we even entertain this thought if it were not possible?

So what does happen? I don't know about you, but unlike the kid in the 6th sense, I can't see dead people. I also haven't ever died or spoken with anyone who has been to the other side and come back to report. I do know that many of the biggest world religions all speak to life after death and for that reason, I believe they might be onto something.

If so, then what is there? Do both heaven and hell exists? Who goes where and why? Who decides? What can we do here on this earth to determine where we spend eternity? I think it has everything to do with where we place our trust.

The Bible actually tells the story of the death of Jesus. As he is hanging on the cross between two thieves, one of them yells out, "if you are the Christ, save yourself and us." Without giving Jesus a chance to respond, the other thief bellows,"Don't you fear God since we are under the same penalty? We are getting what we deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong."

At this point the thief turns to Jesus and says, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom." To which Jesus responds, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

You see, this thief wasn't religious, those were the people who were nailing Jesus to the cross in the first place. He wasn't really good, so we know that it wasn't based on his goodness. He was most likely a pretty bad guy, so we can know that it isn't based on that either. I believe that it was solely on the fact that he trusted who Jesus was and believed that he had the power to save him.

I don't know about you, but I want to know where I'm going to spend eternity after I die, and if I take any pointers from this thief, it is that where I put my trust has everything to do with where I end up.

Think about it...