What Happens After Death? A Christian Perspective- STEEMCHURCH
Dear parishioners of the blockchain, greetings to you @sirknight, more blessings to you all. Today I would be sharing with you all an important topic which I feel would be of benefit to you all as you read may you remain blessed.
Different Perspective Opinions on Death
For the entire existence of mankind, we have struggled with the question, “What happens after death?” Our answer to this dilemma has great implications for our life here on earth. Although many avoid the issue, we must sooner or later address the question. There are many competing answers to this question.
Atheists believe that at death one ceases to exist. There is no afterlife or eternal soul that continues in eternity. All there is to look forward to is our inevitable death, the future death of mankind, and the universe. It is in the face of this future that the atheist must seek to find meaning and purpose for his own existence.
The Wages of Sin is Death
We find that no matter how firmly we attempt to hold onto life, it slips through our fingers. We are powerless to possess it, powerless to stop the relentless movement toward death. We can slow it down or drown it out—by using money, medicine, music, work, relationships, drugs, hobbies — but we are finally overcome by our great enemy. It all ends.
When we give in to the temptation to believe Satan instead of God, we sin against our creator who loves us and has only our best interests at heart.
Are there consequences to believing Satan’s lie? Yes. God’s word is very clear: “The wages of sin is death”
Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 6:23
Death of life, love, joy, gentleness, kindness, and blessedness. Saying yes to the lie makes us slaves of the prince of lies. It pulls us away from God and under the rule of Satan.
God said through his prophet Jeremiah, “See, I am giving you a choice between life and death”
Then I told them that the Lord had said: People of Jerusalem, I, the Lord, give you the choice of life or death. Jer. 21:8
That choice begins now. There are two ways, and only two ways, set before the human race: life and prosperity, death and doom (Dt 30:15-20). God sets before us life and death, the blessing and the curse. And he encourages us to choose the path that leads to life.
The consequences of sin are enormous. But even more important is the fact that we sin against a holy God. Sin is a very personal affront to the one who loves us with a perfect love. God is sovereign over all creation and will not be mocked. And he is a jealous God who for our own sake will not tolerate others in his rightful place.
One Minute After Death
What happens when we breathe our final breath? The Bible teaches what will occur.
First our immaterial soul and spirit will be separated from our physical body. Second, we will immediately receive the judgment that will determine our eternal destiny. Those who have trusted in Christ’s payment on the cross for our sins will enter into eternal life in the presence of God. 2 Corinthians 5:8 states,
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
There will be no delay in a state of unconsciousness many call “soul sleep.” We will immediately be in God’s presence. Second, the soul in heaven is made perfect in holiness and our old sin nature is eradicated. Read what Hebrews 12:23 has to say:
“Here you will find all of God's dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who had been made perfect”
The spirits of the saints are in heaven and they have been made perfect. The struggle with sin that Paul described and all Christians fight comes to an end forever when we, after death, enter our glorified state.
Those who reject this gift, will receive what they have chosen, eternity separated from God in Hell. Hebrews 9:27 states,
“We die only once, and then we are Judged.”
There is no second chance and there is no cycle of reincarnation. Our eternal destiny is determined by the decision we make for Christ here on earth. Many assume that after receiving Christ all that remains is a joyful entrance into heaven. Scripture teaches that Jesus will reward us according to how we lived our life on earth. He taught this principle in the parable of the talents in Luke 19. Each servant was entrusted to administer the talents the master gave him. Upon the return of the master, each servant had to give an account for his stewardship. The wise servants were rewarded doubly while the wicked servant was removed.
The lesson for the Christian is that each of us will give an account for our time here on earth. This is not the same as being judged on our salvation status. Christ’s death on the cross allows all who believe to enter God’s kingdom. We will be judged on our works done since the time of our salvation. This judgment of believers is called the Bema Seat judgment.
This event is described in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work, which he has built upon it, remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.
Paul states that Christ is our foundation. Our works are the building on this foundation. The materials of gold, silver, and precious stones refer to works done with pure motives for the glory of God. The works of wood, hay, and straw are works done with the wrong motives to glorify self. At the Bema Seat, our works will be tested with divine fire. Those works that were done for the glory of God will endure the flames and will be our reward. Some will regretfully see all their works on earth burned up before their eyes and enter heaven with little or no reward. The unbeliever will be judged and sentenced to hell.
What Will We Be Like In Heaven?
Upon our physical death, the soul is separated from the body and enters immediately into the presence of the Lord. Looking again at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:8, he says,
“We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord".
The soul in heaven is made perfect in holiness and our old sin nature is eradicated. The struggle that Paul and all Christians fight with sin comes to an end forever when we, after death, enter our glorified state. We will not remain in heaven as a soul without a body. At God’s appointed time, there will be a final resurrection where the spirit will be unified with the resurrected body.
We will also maintain our identities. In Luke 16:23,
"He went to hell and was suffering terribly, when he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side"
Lazarus, the rich man, and Abraham all retained their identity. Imagine, one day we will no longer struggle with the weakness of sin, sickness, and aging. A great future is in store for those in Christ.
What Will We Do in Heaven?
What will we do in heaven for all eternity? Some envision playing golf for eternity, while others envision saints floating on clouds strumming harps of gold. Although great thoughts, they fall short of the glorious future that actually awaits those in Christ. We are told relatively little about what activities will occur in heaven. We are only given a brief glimpse of our life to come.
First, the moment that saints of all the ages anticipate is seeing the Lord they served face to face. This will be the first and greatest moment after physical death. From then on we will have fellowship in His presence for all eternity.
Second is the aspect of rest. Heavenly rest here does not mean a cessation from activity, but the experience of reaching a goal of crucial importance. In Hebrews 4:9-11 the writer, addressing the people of God states,
“But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will est, even though it has not yet come. On that day God's people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work. We should do our best to enter that place of rest, so that none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did”.
Heaven is the final goal reached after our pilgrimage here on earth. We will rest from our sufferings and struggles against sickness, the flesh, the world, and the devil.
Third, we will serve the Lord. Luke 19:11-27 teaches a parable about stewardship. The wise servants who multiplied their master’s talents were given rule over ten and five cities. Revelation 22:3 tells us,
“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:3 Paul rebukes the carnal Christians who cannot settle their own disputes and asks them, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” In Revelation 3:21 the Lord Jesus promises,
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat dow with my Father on His throne.”
Apparently we will be given authority over a sphere in God’s eternal kingdom. How much we are given depends on our faithfulness to Him on this earth.
Lastly, we will experience fellowship with God and with one another. One of the most painful experiences in life is to say goodbye. Whether it is to see loved ones move to another residence or because of death, farewells are a painful time. For the Christian, there is hope in knowing, our goodbyes are not permanent. One day we will meet again and this time we will never say goodbye again. What awaits the believer after death is a glorious future that cannot truly be imagined!
I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THIS WONDERFUL AND INTERESTING PIECE OF MINE, THANK YOU!!!