I know that most people fear to die, even Christians, and this is because they are not sure where they will go to, Heaven or Hell. Seems we just live life and never think about death or dying and we mostly put off the end until it’s upon us, then we just hope. Not a very good plan is it? Since I’m writing to Christians mostly, let’s look to our Bible and see if it gives us any assurance of where we will go as we die.
I have been taught all my life that when a believer dies, they go to Heaven, but does scripture back it up? Let’s look to Paul and how he viewed death. I will be using the Amplified Bible today as my helper, because it is the closest translation to the Greek.
2 Corinthians 5:8- yes we have confident and hopeful courage, and are well pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:9- therefore, rather we are at home, (on earth away from Him) or away from home, (and with Him) we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be well pleasing to Him.
Philippians 1:21-for me, to live is Christ, – His life in me; and to die is gain- the gain of the glory of eternity.
Philippians 1:23- but i am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart- to be free of this world, to set forth- and to be with Christ, for that is far better;
Brother Luke also wrote about the stoning of Stephen by the Jews in Acts 7:59 and how he saw a vision of Jesus before he died as he prayed.
Acts7:59- and while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept my spirit!
Luke also wrote in his gospel epistle about our most important witness, the Lord Jesus himself as he hung on the cross dying as he spoke to the thief who believed in Him.
Luke 23:43-and He answered him, Truly, I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.
So we have at least six scriptures about where we go as believers when we die. The Bible tells us to establish the truth by getting at least 2-3 witnesses. (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1) So we have Luke, Paul, and Lord Jesus as our three witnesses about where we will go upon our departure of this earthly life.
1. Paul wanted to die and go home to heaven, but he also knew that he was needed here by his followers.
2. Paul was very confident in saying that to die and leave the body, will put you in heaven and with the Lord, if you are a believer.
3. Jesus told the thief that as they died, he the thief, would be with Jesus in Paradise.
4. Stephen was in contact with heaven as he was being stoned, and he asked that he might leave his body and the pain he was enduring, and be with the Lord.
Why is it so important to have two or three witnesses, especially in scriptural doctrine? The Holy Spirit is trying to emphasize a very important fact when any scripture is written down two or three times. This is why we see it repeated, as He is trying to make a point. Repetition by more than one person also gives you a different perspective. So we really need to pay attention and listen to Him. He will never leave us, or forsake us, because we are His child.
If God says something once, He is God, so anything He says is important. But, if He says it more than once, then we need to sit up and pay close attention. I know I’m repeating myself but I want you to be assured that you are comfortable with the truth of what is written in your own Bible. Fear of the unknown is always something that we have to deal with daily. But as a child of God, you have His word that you are His, and when you die you can be assured that you will go to heaven if you are born again of His Spirit.
I have watched two people die in my lifetime, my dad and my wife. Both were believers, and they died in an instant, gone! I just don’t want you to be afraid, if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and you have believed with your heart, and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, (Romans 10:9) then you are His forever.
Read the letters of John if you want someone’s opinion of who you really are and how secure you are as His child. Just live your life with joy and love, and enjoy what He has given you. Joy is not being happy, it comes from within us, by our confidence in Him, happiness depends on something external. Love also comes from within our spirit, as it is Jesus living within us by faith. Just keep on running the race set before you, and remember, you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next week.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 