Perspectives

I love being a senior. I enjoy the never ending conversation with people who have lived a long time. Men and women who honestly look into the future and debate life after death; we can agree that ever since people have walked on the face of the earth, they have wondered about life after death. However, only in the last days, say 30 years or so have modern medical procedures become so efficient that I have read that 100,000 plus lives are saved each year. That stretches the mind a bit when we read about clinical death experiences; people who have been snatched out of the claws of the undertaker, people who have come back to tell us what it was like on the other side. This has created a whole new idea concerning death, its sensation, and its meaning.

Let’s explore a thought: What sort of ideas come to mind when we talk about dying? As believers we believe that death has occurred when the spirit leaves the body. The medical side (I hope I am correct in saying this) says it happens when the brain no longer shows any activity. But what does it really feel like to die? I do not know, I have never been there. I can only go by what people who have had some near death experiences say or write. There are those who will say that the moment of death is absolutely painless. No choking or smothering; feels like fainting. But do you not think that the fear of death is much bigger than that? Perhaps  it is the fear of the unknown. If we would truly know what happens the moment after death and what it felt like. Then I believe much of the fear of death could be removed … and that is where our faith in God takes over.

We cannot ignore what the Bible has to say about after death experiences: In the book of Luke chapter 16:22-26 Jesus is the one doing the talking about a beggar by the name of Lazarus and a rich man … verse 22: “the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.”(NIV) We can be sure that the rich man’s burial was one of great showiness and an elaborate ceremony. So much for the human side of things!  It is his soul that interests us. Where did he go? Verse 23 tells us … In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. (NIV) Notice several things that happen. First, he is in torment. There is literal pain. Somehow he catches sight of others who are in heaven, and at peace. The second thing we see is that he is fully conscious. Finally we are made aware that he has his senses and his memory. Verse 24 … So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”(NIV) Before he was in torment; now he is in agony. He has the capacity for reason. He could see his surroundings. He had feelings. He could hear. He could taste.

Speaking for the Lord, Abraham answers the man’s request in verse 25 … But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. (NIV) There was a time when I would joke about hell; but what do I do with verse 26 … “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from there to us.” (NIV) This fixed chasm that Abraham is talking about suggests a forever place, where nobody, no matter who they are, will ever be able to come to our rescue after we die.

The Biblical lesson that we have discussed does not say, “It is a sin to be rich.” Rather, it teaches … whether rich or poor … that it is a sin when we reject Christ and live only for ourselves. When we shut our ears to the voice of God, and fail to practice the love and mercy taught by Jesus in the Bible. However, salvation, the way to heaven, comes to us when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. Then tell others with our own mouth that Jesus is our Lord. Believing in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead; for it is by believing in our heart that we become right with God. When we tell others with our mouth about our salvation, that brings conformation to our faith. 

Would you pray this prayer with me … “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that will fulfill my hearts desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name.” Amen.