Dear Friends,
Two Sundays ago, I had a member come up to me in church and asked
me what happens when one dies? Her question was precipitated by a fear that her
believing mother may not be enjoying the blessed hope of heaven promised
to everyone who puts their trust and faith in Jesus.
At the time of her question, I had been re reading Randy Alcorn’s
classic book Heaven, which I recommend to anyone who is
looking for a complete and comprehensive study on the subject.
In his condensed booklet on heaven, called “Biblical Answers to
Common Questions,” Alcorn writes, “God’s people in ages past had a source of strength
and perspective largely unknown to us today called Heaven. It was their
central reference point, the North Star by which they could navigate their
lives. But in contemporary society, Heaven has fallen off our radar screen.” (p
.6)
That’s not true anymore. Today there is a new and heighten
interest in what lies beyond the grave.
The study of heaven is more relevant today that at any time in the
last few decades. Fear of death because of the Pandemic and loss of loved
ones due to the ravages of Covid, have heighten people’s awareness of death’s
reality and have led many to a new interest in discovering what lies
beyond this earthly existence.
Church consultants tell us that this interest in one of the main
reasons that many are returning to church; they are looking for an answer
to life’s greatest question - “What happens when I die? Consequently, it
is important that the church has a biblical answer for them.
At funerals I frequently remind those present of Paul’s words to
the Colossians where he writes, “if then you have been raised with Christ, seek
the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of
God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on
earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When
Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.
(Colossians 3:1-4)
Paul tells us we are “to set our minds on the things above,” and
for the next few days I want to
encourage you to do just that together we examine what happens
when a believer dies.
This morning let me draw attention to Philippians 1:21-24 where Paul
writes, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life
in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I
cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be
with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more
necessary on your account.”
Paul speaks of having a desire “to depart and be with Christ, for
that is far better.” He speaks of death as simply a departure from the body, a
departure not into some temporary nothingness where one resides in an
unconscious condition, but one in which we are with Christ. If we are
with Christ, then we continue existing.
Paul says that state is very much better than our present
state. He could not say that if death was only a state of complete
unconsciousness without any awareness of Christ’s presence. No, our life in
heaven is far better because we are with Christ, and we know it.
If this were not true, would it not be better for us to remain in this life
where at least we would have conscious fellowship with Christ?
Contrary to what some describe as soul sleep, where the body remains
asleep, unconscious, and unaware of anything until the time when it is to be
reunited with the body when Christ returns to join our spirits with our new
resurrected bodies and sets up His rule and reign in the new heaven and
the new earth.
We will have more to say about this tomorrow as we look at
additional biblical evidence for one’s conscious existence and presence
with Jesus when we die.
Yours in faith and fellowship,
Tom
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