One Heartbeat Away: Your Journey into Eternity

Purpose of the Book. This book answers several questions, the primary one being: what happens to us after we die? By asking and answering a series of questions, Cahill takes the reader from understanding the need for a Creator to understanding the need for salvation (and sanctification). In this manner, the book both explains the Gospel and defends the Gospel against the major modern arguments against it. Cahill wants the readers---whenever they die---to be prepared for Judgment Day.Thesis of the Book. There is a Creator, who is evidenced in Creation; who is revealed the Bible; who is made manifest in Jesus; and who destroyed "the sin barrier between man and God by the sacrifice of Himself [Jesus], and... will come again to judge everyone" (p57). "We have each broken the commands of Almighty God" (p167), will all die (and have no idea when we will die), and will be guilty on Judgment Day. Therefore, we need to turn away from our sins and receive God's forgiveness. In other words, the thesis is basically the salvation story.Intended Audience. This book obviously is primarily intended for non-Christians. However, it would be useful for Christians who would like to be armed with information to help guide a non-Christian to understanding the Gospel and basic evangelical apologetics. Additionally, this would be a useful book for Christians to purchase in order to give to non-Christians.Structure of the Book. As mentioned above, Cahill uses a series of questions and answers to build his argument for the need of salvation. He begins with questions such as "where does lightening come from, or a brilliant rainbow?" (p15) to then build a case for a Creator. From there, he juxtaposes evolution and Creator to demonstrate the hand of God in the beginning of life.Cahill's next logical step is: if there is a God, which religion's concept of God is correct and which religious text is valid (if any)? Cahill uses archeological, scientific, and prophetic evidence to show the Bible is the writing of a Divine Hand through devoted men (p62).The next two chapters are devoted to answering the question of what awaits us after death, and by what standard we'll be judged. This leads logically to the next two chapters on guilt and the gift of salvation. Over the last few chapters, Cahill explains how the unsaved can repent and turn to Christ, and then live a life following and growing in Christ.Summary of Content. When we look at Creation, why do we not think there is a Creator behind it? Some people think it takes blind faith to believe in a Creator, but believers have a calculated faith (p17). Part of that calculated faith is the evidence of Himself that the Creator left behind. For instance, which takes more faith to believe: nothing turned itself into everything, or God created everything out of nothing?Some point to evolution as a counterargument against a Creator (although that still leaves the beginnings of the universe unexplained). However, whereas there is evidence for microevolution (small-scale adaptation and natural selection), macroevolution (one species transforming into another species) has never been observed and is therefore unscientific (p30). "Everything in the fossil record appears fully formed and true to its own kind," (p34) with no examples of transitional forms between species. Similarly, despite earnest attempts, scientists "have never been able to create life from non-life" (p31). As for humans, no missing link between apes and humans has ever been proved, despite evolutionists' claims that this would have happened relatively recently and therefore should be plentiful (p38). The evidence leads not to proof of evolutionary theory, but to the miracle of creation.If we are a product of Creation, why did the Creator create us? Did He leave us a way to know Him? There are many texts that various religions consider holy. Since these texts and religions make various claims, they can't all be true; in fact, there can be only one truth. While all other religious texts were written by men who claimed to be speaking for God, only the Bible claims to have been written by God speaking to men (p63). There is archeological and external evidence to show historical support for the Bible. There are over 2,000 detailed prophecies in the Old Testament, all of which---except for end times prophecies---have been fulfilled (p69). Jesus alone fulfilled over 300 prophecies in his life (p79).What does the Bible say will happen to us when we die? Daniel 12:2 says that after death we will awake to everlasting life or everlasting contempt (in hell) (p89). In heaven, there will be no pain, disease, sorrow, or death, and we will be able to talk face-to-face with our Creator (p92-93). Hell, on the other hand, is a place of punishment; it is a place of suffering and an unquenchable fire. Some people prefer to think of God as one who is only love and would never send anyone to hell. However, God is not what we want Him to be; He is who He is, despite our thoughts of what He should be. God doesn't desire for people to go to hell, but people choose their own will instead of God's; "if they hate the thought of God in this life, they will hate being with Him in the next" (p97).If the choice after death is between heaven and hell, what criterion is used to decide which place we go? It is wrong to assume that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. If we fail to meet God's standards (i.e., if we sin), then we deserve hell. The standards of God's law are captured in the Ten Commandments. If we have ever lied, stolen, lusted for anything or anyone, spoken irreverently of God, etc., we have failed to meet these standards. According to the Bible (James 2:10), if we have broken just one of the Ten Commandments, it's as if we broke them all (p132). All of us are guilty.If we all deserve hell, then how do we avoid it? Fortunately for us, God allows us to substitute a sacrifice for our own sins. In the Old Testament, we find that "God used animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins" (p146). The animal's blood served as the substitute for people's sins. However, the temple used for sacrifice has been gone for almost 2,000 years, so how can blood be sacrificed? Jesus never sinned, so he is the "perfect once-and-for-all sacrifice for all sin of all sinners" (p149). He is the only way to heaven. We can't cover our sins with good deeds, but the blood of Jesus can make our sins pure and white (p155). As God incarnate, He died and then rose again ("seen by at least 552 people in thirteen places over a period of forty days" (p163).What do we need to get right with God? We should repent, or turn away from our sins and toward God. At the same time, we place our faith and trust in Jesus as our Savior. When we do that, we become a new creature and are no longer condemned (p168). We then carry on with a new heart and mind, relying on Jesus to help us overcome temptations.We must make a decision to follow Jesus or not follow Him. To avoid making a decision or "sitting on the fence" is the same as choosing hell (p177). Additionally, following Jesus is not a promise of a life without problems; in fact, the more a person follows Jesus, the more they may face persecution and tribulation (p179). However, even when Christians face ostracism or persecution, God is with His followers.After making a decision to follow Jesus, we must allow God to mold us and do great things through us while we remain on earth (p199). He will work through us to make us reflect repentance and faith. God didn't create us to be exactly the same, so He will work through us in different ways. However, if we follow Jesus, we will want to reach the lost; we will want to tell them about the good news of Jesus.Critique. This book is an excellent example of a logical flow of presenting the Gospel. Where to begin witnessing with the Good News depends on where someone is in their spiritual journey. Cahill makes the good decision to start with the very beginning: is there a Creator? His progression from there follows what I believe to be a logical sequence of questions that a non-Christian might ask. He answers each set of questions with about the right amount of thoroughness.One of this book's strengths is the number of examples Cahill includes of personal witnessing; each chapter has several first-person stories of sharing the Good News. This not only helps provide information to strengthen the topic he is presenting for the chapter, but also provides a Christian with examples of how to witness to non-Christians. While it's practically impossible to anticipate every question someone may bring up when a Christian shares the Gospel with them, having various examples in several areas (creationism vs. evolution, condemnation of the Law, decision to follow Christ, etc.) gives the Christian who may be new to evangelism a sample on which to build.Another of the book's strengths is that the text is straightforward and easily understood. Some books with an evangelical apologetics bent seem to me to get bogged down in philosophical, theological, or scientific discussions that the average layman wouldn't understand. Even when discussing evolution, Cahill tends to keep the discussion at an everyman's level. This will certainly be beneficial if the reader is a non-Christian looking for answers about God.The book is also not without some flaws. While I understand that some Christians insist that the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the only "true" version, I believe that Cahill's use of the KJV actually hinders the book's effectiveness. As just stated, Cahill keeps his text at an everyman's level; yet he uses the KJV to quote Scripture. Today's readers would much more easily understand a modern English version. If the primary purpose of the book is to reach non-Christians, it seems to me that Cahill would use a Biblical translation that the widest audience would easily understand.One of the book's weakest sections is where Cahill tries to provide scientific evidence to support the Bible (p65-69). He uses Biblical quotes to show that the Bible points out scientific facts that were discovered hundreds or thousands of years later. While the quoted verses could indeed be interpreted the way Cahill intends, they can easily be interpreted without the scientific bent that Cahill claims. For example, Isaiah 40:22 ("It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth...", p67) could be interpreted to mean the earth is round; however, the "circle of the earth" could also mean the bowl-shaped horizon (from an earthly viewpoint). Similarly, Job 38:35 could refer to radio waves, but it could simply point out Job's inability to know where lightening strikes (or goes). The same goes for all the Biblical quotes in this section.Another of the book's shortcomings is a lack of sufficient references. Several quotes are credited within the text, but many of Cahill's statements are unattributed. Cahill is obviously a smart man, but experts in the applicable fields of study should be referenced. For example, in the debunking of missing links (p38-40), there should be references to works proving each link was a fake. Another example: where do Tacitus and Josephus specifically "support the historical accuracy of the Bible" (p64)?One final critique of the book actually has nothing to do with the text, but with the physical book. The binding on my book came completely apart. The cover fell off and some pages simply fell out, even though I treated the book gently. This shouldn't happen after only one reading of the book.Regardless of the above criticisms, I would highly recommend this book for Christian's who wish to share their faith. This would be an excellent gift to a non-Christian, because Cahill logically and deftly leads the reader through the questions a non-believer may have about God.

After a recommendation by another, I thought this book was going to be a first person account of the author's near death experience. I have read several books on this subject and found them to be fascinating.However, this was a mistake on my part because I ordered the wrong book. If you are interested in reading aboutChristian theology, this is the book you would want, however. Appears to be well written and I may read it at alater date.

This book is amazing! It definitely puts the question to rest for anyone who has doubt we were created by an all powerful being that we cant understand. I highly recommend this book for anyone who already has faith or has questions!

Mark Cahill tells it like it is. I buy his books to give away.

If you are a believer in Christ or maybe you are on the fence, THIS IS the book for you! Once you start to read this it is hard to put down. This book makes so much sense, for example: the author takes you on a journey of if we were created by chance, by random acts of the planet or were we created by a creator... think about it, does a tornado pick up scraps of metal and when it is over a complete brand new shiny automobile appear by chance? Where did all the plastics and electronics come from that make up the dashboard? the belts in the tires? All of that came together by chance, NO, the automobile has a creator, a builder, US, humans. Why in the world could anyone think that something as complex as the human body just show up by chance or evolve from an ape? Those stories are from scientists trying to explain things, but GOD said all things are explained in the Bible. Once you read this book, it will change your life my friend! This book changed my life, I was sitting on the fence, always a believer but not connected with God. PLEASE, read this even if you do not believe, Jesus loves you no matter who you are! Take care and may God keep you and bless you and your family!

I love this book . It makes a lot of sense. I am sharingit all the time.

Ive read this book a few times over the past 15 years. First time being in Iraq. This is a real eye opener and be ready for conviction. It is no joke.