What do you think?
I'll admit it: this is something I have thought to study but have not. My first husband is gone; 9 years later, my present husband's wife died. I want to think that my first husband is with the L-rd, his father, his grandparents, etc., who were all believers. I want to think, also, that my present husband's first wife is there, too, with her parents (whom I know were believers) and her little boy who died in her womb. But i cannot say that I know what's going on.
I look at what Messiah said to the man beside Him on the cross when He said, "This day, you will be with Me in Paradise," and I put a lot of stock in His statement. But there are the Scriptures that say people are "asleep."
When I pass from this earthly place, I hope to see G-d and hear Him say, "Well done, faithful servant," but have I been so faithful that He can say that? Surely, He, in order for Him to say that, He will be looking at me through my Messiah's eyes -- the One Who died and rose again for me. I was born in sin, and for my first 14 years, I reveled in sin. Since then, I have certainly not been faithful all the time. I still struggle with the sin issue, because I know that I err, and I know that sometimes, I don't recognize that! Further, having recently realized that I have been very angry at my G-d since 1987 or so, that shakes me to the core -- that I could treat Him in such a disrespectful way.
I look forward to your answers -- especially the short answers, with Scripture references, from those who have actually studied this.