Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
We reflect on a topic that touches every one of us – death. It is a reality that each of us must face, yet it often brings with it a sense of fear, uncertainty, and sorrow. But as followers of Christ, we are not left without hope or understanding. The Bible, our ultimate guide, offers profound insights into the nature of death and its implications for our lives. From the opening chapters of Genesis to the triumphant visions in Revelation, Scripture addresses the complexities of death in ways that are both sobering and hope-filled.
It speaks of death not merely as an end but as a transition – a doorway leading to a new, eternal life. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are given victory over death, a promise of resurrection, and the assurance of eternal life. This article explores the Biblical perspective on death to understand its origins, spiritual significance, and the hope it brings to us as believers. Be blessed as you read!
The message I want to convey to you today might seem a little bit unique or even weird. It’s a message that God put on my heart and I think it will really help many people. I want to talk to you today about the biggest question: and that is what’s death? A lot of people live as if there’s no death, but death always comes, and it’s something that none of us can avoid. There’re many things that we can avoid in life, but we’re all going to someday die. Therefore, it’s an important subject that we need to spend a little bit of time with because we want to know the right answer to one of the biggest questions: what’s death?
Many people don’t think about death at all. They live as if they will never die. Or maybe you’ve even come up with some kind of a doctrine where you think you will be reincarnated and come back as something else. That’s comforting, but it’s not biblical. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 “for it is appointed for [all] men once to die.” Not over and over and coming back as something else, but once to die, “and after that there’s judgment.” That means we’re all going to face God. That also means that death is simply stepping out of this life and that there is life after death. Romans 14:12 says that “every man,” everyone, “will give an account of himself to God.”
So, let’s take a moment to consider this: whether or not you are born again, there will come a day when we will all stand before God and give an account of our lives. But don’t be afraid if you have put your trust in God Almighty through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, because death is not anything that we need to be afraid of. One of the benefits of being a believer in Jesus Christ is the assurance of not having to be afraid of death.
In Matthew 25, we read the story of the nation’s coming to the Lord on His throne, where He separates the sheep from the goats. In Matthew 25:34, He said to the righteous, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” But to the unrighteous, He said, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mathew 25:41). Although it was never intended for humans, hell is a dreadful place where those who reject such a great sacrifice will be with the devil and his angels for eternity (Revelation 20:10). Let’s go to the Bible to find the answer to this question through Jesus’s teaching. Luke chapter 16 explains what happens after we die and I start from verse 19. It’s the story of Lazarus and the rich man.
" Death is nothing but just stepping out of this life, and there is life after death. "
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side (bosom). The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 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.’
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. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
This story clearly teaches that death is nothing but just stepping out of this life and that there is life after death. It also shows that there are only two destinations possible after death: a place of torment for the wicked or a place of blessing for the righteous. Therefore, this is a valid subject that we need to spend some time with because we want to make sure that when we die, we end up in the right place after that. When we die, it’s not as if, we just stop being. Your body here just turns to ashes and dust, and your spirit goes somewhere else. And so, we only have two choices. To put it very bluntly, we’re either going to heaven or we’re going to hell, and I think any normal person, without even having very much of a description, would choose heaven and not hell.
The Bible says that in hell, there will be suffering, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Obviously, people who are not believers in Christ, many times don’t think about this at all. But this story presents hell and Abraham’s bosom as real places. Hell, really exists, and this story represents it as a place of fire and torment. Abraham’s bosom is a symbolic term designating a place of comfort for the righteous dead. It was also referred to as “paradise” in Luke 23:43. It was located in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40 and Ephesians 4:9) in the same region as hell was located, which is where the ungodly dead go. The Old Testament referred to this entire region as “Sheol” (Amplified Bible).
We don’t cease to exist after we die. Before Jesus’ resurrection, everyone went into the centre of the earth when they died. It was separated into two compartments. One was called “Abraham’s bosom,” or “paradise,” while the other was called “hell,” a place of torment (Luke 16:23-28).
