Hard Questions (Part 7)

Death, Dreams, & the Afterlife

Big Idea:

Because Jesus defeated death, Christians don't have to fear what happens after death… we can trust God's Word over our feelings, experiences, or fears.

Main Text

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Introduction

Death is weird.

Nobody teaches us how to deal with it.

When someone dies...

we replay memories

we wish we had one more conversation

we wonder where they are

we ask questions nobody seems to have answers for

The grave can seem so dark and cold.

We had some deep questions submitted for this week. A lot of them were about death, however some of them were about finding hope in the midst of death...

Let’s read:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NLT

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

This passage is literally written to answer the believers’ fears about loved ones who have died.

The scripture says, “We do not want you to be uninformed...so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”

This is kind of the theme for the night and a lesson to take home with you

We grieve…. grief will happen, loss will happen…

however, as believers, we grieve differently.

Question:

"I had a dream after a relative died and I saw them and three other people I have never seen in my life but I knew who they were. Was it real?"

1. Our hope comes from what God has said… not just what we've experienced.

Some of you may have experienced this before

It probably felt incredibly real.

It could have brought comfort to you.

It may have even scared you.

Don't dismiss it.

The Bible records genuine dreams.

Genesis

Daniel

Matthew

But...

Every dream recorded in Scripture came because God initiated it and its purpose was to reveal His will… not to provide ongoing conversations with deceased loved ones.

Can God use a dream to comfort someone? Absolutely. God can do anything consistent with His character.

But should we build our beliefs about the afterlife on dreams?

No.

We build our beliefs on Scripture.

Hebrews 1:1–2 NLT

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.

God has spoken most clearly through His Son and His Word.

Don’t build your beliefs on anything else.

2. The dead do not come back to communicate with us.

Luke 16:19–31 NLT

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus back.

Abraham’s answer?

No.

God has already given His Word.

In Deuteronomy 18, God forbids trying to contact the dead.

This isn't because Grandma is trying to haunt you.

It's because God doesn't want us chasing spiritual experiences instead of Him.

Sometimes our dreams are...

grief

memories

anxiety

our brains processing loss

Sometimes they're comforting.

Sometimes they're disturbing.

Either way...

God's Word is more trustworthy than our dreams.

"I think the hardest questions tonight weren't about dreams."

"They were about people."

Question:

"At what age do children stop going to heaven?"

3. God is perfectly just and perfectly merciful.

"The Bible never gives us an exact age."

Don't invent one.

However, us baptists believe in the idea often called the "age of accountability."

Think of it like driving a car. A very young child doesn’t understand traffic laws. If they wreck a toy car into a wall, they are not breaking the law. However, once a person is old enough to learn the rules, they are responsible for their actions.

The phrase “age of accountability” isn't necessarily found in Scripture.

However, the principle is inferred.

In 2 Samuel 12, David (the man after God’s own heart) has a child that dies as an infant. While the child was sick, David prayed and fasted and was obviously super burdened for his kid. However, when his child died, he stopped the praying, he stopped the fasting. His advisers were shocked and they asked him… “why were you acting like that when your child was sick but when they died you stopped?” His words:

2 Samuel 12:22–23 NLT

David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

In Matthew 19 some parents sent their kids to Jesus to be blessed by Him and the disciples scolded them for bothering Jesus. What did Jesus say?

Matthew 19:14 NLT

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

God judges people with perfect justice.

No child will ever stand before God and receive unfair judgment.

If anyone is saved, it is always because of Jesus' grace—not because of innocence.

The Bible doesn't tell us an age.

It tells us we can trust the Judge.

Transition.

One final question.

This one deserves our full attention.

Question:

"Do people who end their lives go to heaven or hell?"

4. Suicide is not stronger than the grace of Jesus.

This may be personal for someone here.

If you've lost someone this way...

or if you've struggled yourself...

I want you to hear me carefully.

People are not saved because they die a certain way.

People are saved because they trust Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Salvation is by grace.

Not by works.

Not by the final sin someone committed.

See, I think this belief is based on people who don’t believe in eternal security. We as baptists believe that when you give your life to Jesus, you are eternally secure. You can’t lose your salvation. Jesus died for your past, present, and future sins.

If someone belongs to Christ...

their salvation isn't erased by one tragic act.

At the same time...

Never minimize suicide.

It is a terrible tragedy.

It leaves unimaginable pain.

It is never God's desire.

Psalm 34:18 NLT

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted.

If tonight you're not asking this question about somebody else...

you're asking because you're exhausted...

because you don't want to keep living...

because you feel trapped...

I need you to know:

You are deeply loved.

Your story isn't over.

Please don't fight that battle alone.

Talk to:

me

another leader

a parent

another trusted adult

Life is hard, don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting help.

Gospel Moment

Death looked like it won on Friday.

The tomb looked final on Saturday.

Then Sunday came.

John 11:25–26 NLT

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

I am the resurrection and the life.

Christianity isn't built on wishful thinking.

It's built on an empty tomb.

Because Jesus defeated death...

death no longer gets the final word.

Invitation

Some of you are grieving.

Some of you miss someone.

Some of you are carrying questions you've never voiced.

Bring it to Jesus.