What Happens When we Die?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10
What is the world’s view about what happens after death? Some say physical death is the end; others say that a good person will go to heaven; others don’t think about death; still others don’t believe in hell. These are the thoughts of many, but the truth lies with God and is revealed to us in his Word. Unfortunately Satan has convinced many people to justify their own ideas and has planted fear in their hearts that keeps them from seeking the truth.
Let’s look at scripture and find out what God says concerning what happens to us after physical death. And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The spirit includes the conscious soul which according to scripture will be with Jesus in paradise. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) At the second coming of Christ we receive our new imperishable bodies and we will meet Christ and be taken to our heavenly home. Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Those who belong to the Lord, his family, will meet the Lord on his return and live with him forever in heaven. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9). Unless we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior with a repentant heart we will not receive the Holy Spirit.
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) If we believe that Christ died for our sins and are willing let him be the Lord of our lives (repent) and be baptized, then we have the promise of receiving the Holy Spirit. But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the Lord molds us to have the mind of Christ so that we can have a closer relationship with our Lord. After our last breath, God’s plan to have his family live with him in heaven forever is completed. This is the reason for everything God has revealed to us.
We can believe anything we want about what happens when we die, but our own beliefs are nothing more than lies Satan has put into our hearts. God tells what he desires for us so that we may have eternal life. We cannot determine by our own rules if we will have eternal life, because God makes the rules, not us.
Today know that you have eternal life because you are in God’s family, filled with the Holy Spirit, and guided by the Lord’s love, power, and divine wisdom. Spend time in the comfort of your Christian brothers and sisters, reading the Word and praying. Be secure in Christ knowing that your home is in heaven, and let the Spirit destroy any fear that Satan throws your way.
Let’s Pray: Father, help me to dismiss any confidence I may have in Satan’s lies, and to take real comfort in your truth. Lord, guide me in the Spirit that I might live life to the full by being a light for Christ, bringing your truth to lost souls. Thank you for always being with me, and guiding me through life, with the freedom that comes from being your servant. In Jesus name, Amen