WHERE DO CHILDREN GO WHEN THEY DIE?

WHERE DO CHILDREN GO WHEN THEY DIE?

The Bible tells us that there is judgment after death. Hebrews 9:272 states that “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…”. That is easy to understand when the dead person is an adult. But in the case the person is a child who is not old enough to choose between good and evil, what manner of judgment will be meted out? The Bible accepts that children need to grow to a certain age before they can tell the difference between good and evil and therefore choose between the two. “…for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste” (Isaiah 7:16). If that is the case, then there should be provision in the Bible for such unfortunate kids.

The above verse supports the concept of “age of accountability” which implies that there is a particular age that a child must attain before they can stand judgement. However, that particular age is not stated in the Bible. Adherents to this concept believe that in biblical Israel, a child is considered mature by attaining the age of 13. Therefore, it is after age 13 that a child can stand judgement. Of course, such doctrines will have a number of questions.

I believe that the answer to this question can be taken from 1 Corinthians 7:14.

“For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy”.

1 Corinthian 7:14

This makes it possible to conclude that if the parents are saved, the child will be saved and if they are not saved, their children are also not saved until they mature enough to take their own decisions. It is a Bible principle that the blessings of a father can be extended to his children and his curses too. Let us note that our commitment to God and the things of God are not just for us but we do on behalf of our children too.