Ask Pastor Jonathan: What Happens When You Die?
Ask Pastor Jonathan • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 10:04
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· 68 viewsJoin Pastor Jonathan as he discusses what happens when you die from a Biblical perspective.
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Introduction:
Dying is a very mysterious thing to us as humans. The Bible teaches us that we were made perfect, but when sin entered the world so did death. Our bodies were corrupted by sin and now decay and eventually succumb to death.
As we see those around us pass away, we can’t help but consider what dying will be like. It makes us wonder what the dying experience will entail.
There are a lot of teachings about what happens when you die that are not Biblical. Beware of stories that speak of experiences that are not backed up by Scripture. We do not want to build our theology of death around the subjective experiences of others. The Word of God is our solid truth. So let’s be sure that we build our theology of death around it alone.
Let’s pray and jump into the question.
Prayer.
As we begin seeking to understand this topic more fully, we must start with accepting that much of this remains a mystery to us. This is a difficult thing for us to accept at times, but there are many things that God has not revealed to us yet.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
There is a temptation for us to try to fill in some of this mystery with worldly wisdom and ideas. We must fight hard against those.
Although we do not need to be hypercritical of those who have stories of spiritual experiences regarding death, we also must not use these stories to build our theology regarding death. The Bible is sufficient. What God tells us in His Word is the most important. It is the only thing that is 100% reliable - 100% inerrant.
The other thing that we need to understand is that the Scripture is to be used to comfort us through questions like this. We ask these kinds of questions because the dying process seems like a frightening and mysterious event.
What are we to do when we are afraid?
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
When we are afraid, we are to first put our trust in God.
How do we do that? Through His Word.
When we rightly understand God through His Word, fear melts away and faith takes its place.
I hope that you currently have a high view of God’s Word and that you trust Him greatly. His promises are sure. He has promised that all believers will be ushered into His Presence right after they pass away.
Listen to Paul teach this clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8:
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
If we are away from the body - then we are at home with the Lord.
Luke 16:22 gives us a little more information about what this process entails:
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side…
Here we see that angels carry believers into Paradise. Paradise is the holding place of souls until the future resurrection of believers as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. Our soul is carried by the angels to Paradise and is with the Lord Jesus until it is joined with our glorified and resurrected body.
Thus, when we go to a funeral - the person is no longer there. If they are a believer - they have been carried into Paradise - into the Presence of Christ - by an angel.
Yet those who are unbelievers, the Bible is clear that once they die, they are immediately in a place of torment.
Looking back at Luke 16, we see written…
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
Here we see the unbeliever - namely the evil rich man - is in Hades which is a holding place for all unbelievers. Eventually all of those in Hades along with all of the demons and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:11-15). This will be the final holding place for all evil doers.
After we die, it is clear that the chasm between Paradise and Hades - and later Heaven and Hell - is fixed.
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
This is a terrifying verse for those who are unbelievers. There is no purgatory. There is no place of second chances. There is no do-over as Hebrews 9:27 asserts that it appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.
However, for those in Christ, our eternity is secure. We can rest assured that Christ will never forsake us.
My friends, if you are listening to this and you aren’t sure what your eternity holds currently - may this be a clear warning for you. May you heed this warning and respond to the wonderful grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose from the dead - taking on all of your sins on that cross. He died the death that you and I deserved. If only you will repent - or turn away from your sins - and believe and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord - then you may be saved. Your eternity will be secure. Your salvation will be sure. He is the only way to God (John 14:6).
If you desire to discuss salvation more - please reach out to me. Don’t let another day go without making the most important decision of your life.
Before finishing, there is one other important account in the Bible that we can view.
Stephen had a certain experience when he died - this is not necessarily a hard and fast rule that all will experience this - it may have been unique to him - however it is an interesting interchange.
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Here we see the wonderful grace of God as Stephen is stoned for His faith. He sees the heavens opened and sees Jesus. He even offers forgiveness to those who are killing him and asks that Jesus receive his spirit.
Even in the midst of suffering, Stephen is able to rejoice in what lies ahead for him.
Although our experience may not be like his at death, our outcome is just as sure if we are in Christ!
We can hold on to some other promises in the Bible as we consider the dying process, however.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
When we are at our weakest - Christ provides His strength and power to us the most. This would certainly empower us during the dying process.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
When we are close to death - may we look forward to the rewards to come.
We must remember that death is truly gain:
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul clearly taught that to die was actually gain. To be with Christ is far better than to be on earth.
And finally, may we remember the beautiful verses of Psalm 23:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
His comfort us there all along the way. We need not fear.
As we come to a close, I pray that this has been encouraging to you. If you are in Christ, God promises comfort by His Word and by His Presence. During the dying process, He will never leave you nor forsake you. His grace will be sufficient to carry you all the way home. Rest in Him.
Thanks for listening and I pray that this has been helpful. Have a wonderful day.
