What happens when you die, do you float around like a ghost, do you go straight to heaven, or do you wait in the grave till Jesus returns?

Do followers of Christ go straight to heaven when they die?
When Jesus was on the cross, a thief on another cross nearby knew who Jesus was and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered His kingdom in heaven.  Jesus replied to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). The promise was that he would be with Christ right away, not some far off date in the future. Paul confirms this when he declared that he was prepared to die, because he knew that when he died he would be immediately be present with God. “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor 5:8)   In Philippians 1:21-24 Paul writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”

Paul knew that when he died (depart), he would be with Christ, but he also knew that the church’s needed him there to help minister to their communities. Thus he was willing to stay here on earth, but he was also looking forward to being with Christ in heaven. Thus, the short answer for it is, when a person dies they are immediately in the presence of God.

But what happens to our bodies?
At death our bodies go into the grave and will stay their till Jesus returns during the second coming of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16). Jesus will then raise and transform all Christians (1 John 3:2) and give then new bodies so their spirits will not be naked any more (2 Cor. 5). Each follower of Christ will receive a body suitable for heaven and each person who does not follow Christ will receive a body suitable for hell (Gr. Gehenna).

People who do not follow Christ do not go straight to hell; rather they go to a waiting place called Hades. Hades is an intermediate state of the dead (disembodied spirits) who are awaiting the Judgment. It is there that they will await their great throne judgment and receive their new bodies suitable for hell before being cast into the lake of fire.

Did Jesus go to Hell?
Jesus going to hell comes from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, which dates from the fifth century A.D., and claims that Jesus descended into hell and retrieved all the Old Testament saints.  The Apocrypha is a series of books not recognized by early Christians, but it was later recognized by the Roman Catholic Church during the reformation at the Council of Trent in 1546 AD. Generally speaking Christians outside the Roman Catholic Church, including me, do not generally recognize these books as part of the Bible.

Confusion has since been compounded when English translations of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, when translators did not understand the technical distinctions that exist between the pertinent Greek terms. Hades, a place for the dead to wait, and gehenna, the final place for the wicked, were translated into hell even though they were to different locations.   This confusion carried over into the King James Version’s rendering of hades as “hell.”

Jesus did not go to hell for a couple of days. All the sin sat on his shoulders at the cross and for a moment in time he was sin and it was put to death on the cross. When he died, Jesus went to His Father in heaven where he later was reunited with the other thief on the cross who died after Him.

Where are you going to go when you die? Hades or Heaven?

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 ESV).

Kindness, the meaning and ideal of the word was always something that I thought I understood, until God showed me what it really means.  When I least expected it, God taught me a lesson in the kindness of strangers when I was 3,000 miles from the comfort of home.  The lesson came in three, and while my trip had memorable moments, nothing will be remembered as much as these strangers.

The first encounter came out of circumstances that I had created all by myself.  Due to my lack of calculation on how long it takes to get to the airport, I missed my flight.  As it turned out, I caught the next flight out and since I am prone to talking with strangers, sparked up a conversation with the women sitting across from me.  The conversation eventually led to a discussion on education, which I was just thrilled about.  As the five hour flight wore on, she inquired about why I was traveling and informed her that I was going to check out a school.  Upon learning that I planned to utilize public transportation to get from the airport to my hotel (about an hour away), she offered me a ride. I was blown away, my hotel was out of her way and she was a stranger, but I accepted.  Not only did she give me a ride to my hotel and wanted to make sure that I checked in before going on her way.  Maybe it was her motherly instinct and would have wanted someone to do the same for her daughter, but I believe that it was God’s intervention that led the way.  Whatever it was, I know I will never forget her kindness.

One day later, I was taking the bus from the train station back to my hotel.  It was dark, raining, and I told the bus driver that I needed the stop closet to my hotel.  A miscommunication between the two of us led to him bypassing the stop and took me miles away.  The driver said that I could get out and cross the street to wait for the next bus to take me back and that it should come soon.  I did just that, got out in the pouring rain with a broken umbrella, crossed a busy street and waiting at a bus stop with barely any light next to a dark freeway entrance.  When 20 minutes had gone by, I was shivering from taking on more rain than the umbrella was keeping out.  I decided that I would just walk back, that maybe it was not as far as I thought. Let’s just say, not one of my finest moments and I did not get far before realizing that the street barely had lights.  Saying prayer after prayer, I asked God what I should do and then saw a hotel across the street.  I decided to take a chance, (at this point I thought what else could happen).  Once inside, and trying not to leave puddles where I walked, I asked the reception if they could call me a cab and how much it would be (I had limited funds and was worried).  God again provided.  Just as the receptionist was about to call, he said that his shuttle driver would give me a lift, free of charge!  I should mention that my own hotel’s shuttle had a limit of five miles and I was way past that as it turned out.

The last act of kindness came on my way home.  On a layover in Chicago, I again struck up a conversation with an elderly lady next to me.  From the conversation, I found out that I was actually sitting next to a famous artist who was friends with the late Rosa Parks and whose artwork resides in the United States Capitol.  While she had traveled the world and done work for celebrities, I found her to be humble.  We even talked about God and the role he has played in our life.  Halfway through the trip we grew tired since it was almost 10 p.m. and the cabin was really cold.  Without saying a word, she took off her scarf, opened it up and folded it in half, before covering me.  Needless to say I was stunned as her kindness when she could have easily covered herself. I told her to cover herself but she said she was fine.  I thanked her over and over, even after I got off the plane.

If anything I have learned is that kindness is a Christian responsibility.  We should always remember that Jesus Christ showed kindness to everyone he encountered and that we are called to show others, especially strangers, kindness to help them.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2 ).

Photo by Walmink

Have you ever been frustrated after talking to someone when they later deny that you ever told them something? As you were speaking to them, one of three things happened: one – they weren’t listening, two – they misunderstood what you said or three – they didn’t want to admit that they heard what you said. This is often common with children. Why is it that we parents have to speak repeatedly in order to get their attention? Think of how frustrated God must get with us, when we, His children, don’t listen to Him?

If you’ve ever read the Bible you know that God is speaking to you. Were you listening? Heb. 11:1-2a says; “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son…”

When reading God’s word we need to listen to what it says. God will give us understanding through His Spirit. God sent His Son into the world that we might know the truth. The truth is that God loves us and wants to forgive us of the sin that was passed onto us through Adam. Rom. 5:12, 17-19 is translated this way in T.E.B.; “Sin came into the world because of what one man did. And with sin came death. And that is why all men must die…One man sinned and so death ruled all people because of that one man. But now some people accept God’s full grace and the great gift of being made right with Him. They will surly have true life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ.”

God has spoken clearly and loudly in Rom. 3:23; “All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And again in Rom. 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I John 5:12 goes on to say; “He who has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life.” These scriptures are not talking about natural life. They are speaking of eternal life lived forever in the presence of God.

In John 8:43, 45, 47 Jesus says; “Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word…but because I tell the truth you do not believe Me…he who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Those who believe in God hear His words and He tells us in John 8:32; “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” God’s truth is too important not to hear Him. Give attention to Him as you hear and read His Word.

IT PAYS TO LISTEN TO GOD WHEN HE SPEAKS!

Photo by Indiana Stan

One of the best stories is the true story about a bride and bridegroom who where handcuffed to each other during their wedding ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  They stood there before the minister with one arm of the bridegroom handcuffed to the adjoining arm of the bride.

Frenan Lowe had heard that the some of his friends were planning a practical joke by kidnapping the bride on their wedding day.  But Fernan got smart and handcuffed himself to his bride to be, so that if they did abduct her they would have to take him too.  That’s why the bride and bridegroom were handcuffed at the altar. They even went so far as to leave for heir honeymoon still handcuffed together.

Talk about being in unison from the start! They’re literally inseparable! However, thankfully you don’t have to handcuff yourself to your spouse to have a close a binding marriage. There are simple every day activities that you and your spouse can do daily that will have eternal value.

1. Build empathy through praying for one another.
Start your day of praying for one another. Consider the activities that your spouse will or might face and pray that God will be with them. When I pray for my wife it fosters empathy for her and helps me to better understand her day. Quiet frankly, I don’t know how she manages a full house with three kids.

2. Build unity through prayer together.
Finding time to pray together can be rough. In fact, in our lives it sometimes feel down right impossible! For some it feels awkward or forced and for others it can be scary, but praying together can also be one of the most powerful moments in a marriage. It give you and your spouse the opportunity to tap into God’s power in your marriage and reminds you that God wants to be part of your family. If you find praying to be awkward, then make it a conversation. Speak one sentence (or so) and have your spouse say the next sentence to God. If you have never really prayed regularly and you find yourself praying for 30 seconds, well that’s 30 seconds more than you did the day before. Prayers do not need to be long or elegant, they just need to be an honest conversation with God.

This week make time to pray with your spouse and for your spouse.  If it’s really truly important to you, you will make the time.  In the end you will be glad that you did.  Thousands of married couples have already made this commitment and are thankful that they did.  Be apart of the thankful group with your spouse.

If you plan on going somewhere by air in the near future you may already be aware that any ‘extra’ baggage will cost you. Extra baggage is any luggage that you check before boarding. Prices range depending on the airline from $25-$30 for the first bag and $40-$50 for the second bag. This surcharge has a lot of people rethinking about how much baggage they really need for their trip.

Just like flying, our spiritual life has a cost if we carry too much baggage in our Christian walk. As Christians we sometime carry around undesirable baggage that hinders us as we follow Christ. Heb. 12:1 calls this baggage, “The sin that does so easily entangles us.” There are many, but just let me list a few.

• UN-CONFESSED SIN

Sin that we ignore or we attempt to hide is spiritual baggage and it costs us. This un-confessed sin breaks our fellowship with God and with one another. However, God gives us a way to get rid of it. In 1 John 1:9 we are told, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But, I John 1:10 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We can’t afford this baggage.

• AN UNFORGIVING HEART

To be unable to forgive someone, no matter how justified you may feel, is sin. If we carry it around it will cost us the forgiveness of God for our own sins. In Mark 11:26 Jesus says, “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father, which is in heaven, forgive your trespasses.” In Luke 6:37 Jesus assures us, “Forgive and you shall be forgiven.” We don’t need this baggage.

• THE LOVE OF THE WORLD

We are told by Paul in II Tim. 4:10, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” If we turn to the world and the things of the world, we turn our back to service for God. Demas had been serving God with Paul but he got his eyes off the Lord and onto the world and left his place of service. I John 2:16 tells us that; “All that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” Love of the world is baggage that is far too costly.

Spiritual Baggage? It Will Cost You Too Much!

Photo by Bob AuBuchon

You probably recognize these words as coming from an advertisement for a well-known cell phone company. Cell phone companies are constantly striving to provide its users with cell reception wherever they may be. In spite of their efforts there are still places where there is no reception. These areas are called ‘dead zones’; for whatever reason those who are in a dead zone do not get the message.

There is an analogy here to God’s efforts to communicate His word to us. The problem is not on God’s part. Hebrews 1:1,2a tells us Read the rest of this entry »

What if I were to tell you that God did not create marriage to make you happy, rather He made marriage to make you holy.  That is not to say that holiness won’t make you happy. In fact, I do believe that holiness is a HUGE contributor to happiness, but it is not the primary purpose.  God created marriage to make you holy.

In Genesis 2:18-25 God took Eve out of Adam, only to decree that they be reunited as husband and wife and to become ‘one flesh.’  Jesus affirms this view of marriage when he too tells us that married couple becomes ‘one flesh’ (Matthew 19:1-12).  Being of ‘one flesh’ in many respects mirrors the unity Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father have.  Thus, marriage is a relationship where couples learn to be more like Christ and thus become more holy.  But how do we become more holy?

We become Holy when:

1. We recognize that our spouse is God’s child. (Remember God is not just your father, he is your father in-law)
2. We focus on the needs of our spouse.
3. We treat our spouse with respect.
4. We give our spouse our undivided attention.
5. We love our spouse without reservation.
6. We hold our spouse and give them hugs.
7. We forgive our spouse when they make a mistake.
8. We serve our spouse.
9. We affirm our spouse with words of praise.
10. We give our spouse gifts of love that are packed with thoughtfulness.

Remember, marriage a joyful covenant between wife, husband and God that is designed to make you holy and this often leads to happiness.  How are you going to make your marriage holy today?

Original Photo By Michael Esplana