The Truth About Death
By George Stroh
October 31, 2022
"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)
There is much confusion and wild speculation about death. What is death and what happens to us after we die? The Bible defines physical death as separation of one's spirit from their body; For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) Some believe in reincarnation, where upon physical death, the spirit or soul moves into another physical body. Hinduism and Buddhism teach that the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, will determine their fate in future existences; kind of a "do over" or what the golfers call a "Mulligan". While not at all a true biblical doctrine, there is some biblical truth here; So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)
Others hope that when they die, they will just cease to exist-- No judgment or consequences, good or bad, for their actions in this life. It is certainly true that when we die, our physical bodies in time will disintegrate and decompose. However, I remember from a college physics class that although matter can change form through physical and chemical changes, it still exists. And, again, the Bible is clear that even when our physical body dies, our spirit lives on and everyone's physical body, even the bodies of unbelievers, will eventually be resurrected for eternal judgment; And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:23, 24)
If the Bible is true, and it is, all of us will be physically resurrected and judged by God. Unbelievers have good reason to fear death, ignore and rationalize away any biblical truth about coming judgment; For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30,31)
The good news is that if you are a born again Christian, your sins are all forgiven and you have already been justified before Him by grace through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ; For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23,24) Accordingly and thankfully, there need be no fear, confusion or wild speculation about physical death for those of us who know Him as our Lord and Savior!
Maranatha!
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