04-27-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: ‘Where Do You Go After You Die?’

[Disciple]

‘Heaven – A Travel Guide’
‘Where Do You Go After You Die?’
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Intro.
Some of you here tonight are world travelers, others of us have not traveled as extensively. Regardless where you may plan to travel it is good to consult a travel guide. A travel guide will give you pertinent information and details about the place to which you want to travel.
Tonight we are beginning a new Bible Study series on heaven and hopefully this series will be for us a travel guide answering questions that are often asked about heaven.
Heaven is where Christians are going to spend eternity. Yet I find that generally speaking we have little curiosity and even less knowledge about heaven. Probably many of us spend more time preparing for a 2 week vacation than we do preparing for eternity in heaven.
According to a 2005 ABC News poll, 89% of Americans believe in heaven. Among believers, 85% think they are going to heaven when they die. So what happens when we die?
I. When You Die You Continue To Exist
Death is not the end of life, death is not annihilation. When the body dies, the soul (spirit) continues to live in a state of personal consciousness and awareness. We continue to exist as souls without bodies, the body is buried but the soul goes to God.
Eccl. 12:7
We can consider some Scriptural examples that show the soul continues to exist in a conscious state.
1 Sam 28:11-19
God allowed the prophet Samuel to speak to King Saul even though Samuel had died. Samuel’s spirit came back and talked to King Saul. The fact that Samuel speaks to Saul shows Samuel was conscious.
Matthew 17:3
Jesus is on the Mount of Transfiguration and Moses and Elijah appear and are talking with Jesus even though Moses and Elijah had been dead for hundreds of years. They were seen by Peter, James and John.
If Moses and Elijah were annihilated at death and death ends all existence how could they have talked with Jesus and been seen by Peter, James and John?
Luke 16:19-31 is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Both had died and went to separate places, both are seen in a conscious state. Some may object and say, ‘but that’s a parable’. Remember that the parables Jesus told portray realistic situations. Therefore, this ‘parable’ must portray reality.
Though the rich man was in torment in hell, he was conscious and was talking with Father Abraham. He was aware of the need for his five brothers who were still living to be told about hell so they could avoid coming to this horrible place.
And the reality is that when this body dies, we continue to live in a state of consciousness. We will be aware of our surroundings, we will be aware of what is going on around us.
II. When You Die There Are two Places Of Existence
With the death of the body, the soul (spirit) continues to live, but where does the soul go? That depends on one issue. What have you done with Jesus Christ? I want to mention just briefly one place of existence to await the judgment day. I will have more to say about this place in another Study.
One place is called a ‘place of torment’- it is known better as ‘hell’
Luke 16:22-24
Those who reject God’s Son, Jesus, will be in this place of torment when they die, it is a place to shun. But the choice is yours to make. ‘What will you do with Jesus whom God has given to save you?’
The second place is what I want to emphasize more tonight. It is a place called ‘paradise’.
Luke 23:43
When you die the spirit leaves the body and we go to be with the Lord. The spirit is what gives life to the body and when the spirit leaves the body, death occurs. You have put a glove on your hand many times, you know that when you put your hand into the glove the hand gives the glove its shape.
When your hand is removed from the glove the shape remains in the limp glove, but the object that gave it shape is gone. When the body dies, the body keeps its form, but the spirit that gave life to the body is gone.
2 Cor. 5:8
When the Christian dies they are immediately in the presence of the Lord. To be ‘away from the body’ is describing death. To be ‘at home with the Lord’ is describing being in the presence of the Lord. The Lord is in heaven at the right hand of God. When the Christian dies we go to be in heaven with the Lord.
There is a very compelling passage of Scripture that affirms that when the Christian dies he goes immediately to the presence of Jesus Christ.
1 Thess. 4:13-18- 2 verses here especially need to be considered.
1 Thess. 4:14
At the 2nd coming of Jesus, the souls of the Christians who have died will be coming back with Jesus. If they are not with him now, how can he bring them back with him at the 2nd coming?
1 Thess. 4:16
We remain without bodies until the 2nd coming of Christ. It is at Christ’s return that the ‘dead in Christ’ (their bodies) will be raised up and receive the new resurrection body.
III. After Death We Await The Judgment
When Jesus Christ returns we will receive the new resurrection body. We have already seen the Scripture when Paul talks about the ‘dead in Christ’ rising first. This ‘rising’ is the resurrection of the body to be changed into the new, glorious body for eternity. Consider how Paul describes it in another passage.
1 Cor. 15:50-54
Are you looking forward to the new body? Do you have assurance tonight that you will be among those who receive a new glorified body because you are in Christ Jesus? Without being in Christ, you have no assurance. You can have no confidence.
Following the second coming of Christ the judgment then takes place.
2 Cor. 5:10
There are two aspects of this judgment that you need to know.
‘Judgment for the unsaved’- the non-Christian will receive a judgment of sin. Because they refused God’s offer of salvation through Jesus and they did not have their sins washed away, they will receive the sentence for their sins. Death.
This judgment will be eternal death, eternal separation from God in the fires of hell.
‘Judgment for the saved’- This will not be a judgment of sins. Our sins have been forgiven, our sins have been washed away in the precious blood of Jesus Christ! Our sins cannot condemn us for we have been declared ‘not guilty’
1 Cor. 3:13-15
Are you ready for the Judgment Day to come? Are you eager for the day of the Lord? Do you have great anti****tion for the time when the spirit leaves the body and you receive the new glorified body and hear the Lord say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the Lord.’
There is only one way you can look for that time with eagerness and joy. That is to be in Christ tonight and know that when death comes you will be with Christ for all of eternity.
Someday we are going to be absent from this body and be at home with the Lord. Someday we are going to meet our loved ones just inside the gate. What a day that will be! WILL YOU BE THERE???
If you haven’t made your reservation, now would be a good time.