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In our culture people don’t like to talk about death, yet everyone knows that death is inevitable.  This is frequently expressed by the popular saying, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”  So why do we avoid the subject?  According to a recent study by Caring.com, Americans duck the subject of death so diligently that 76% of all Americans die without a last will and testament.

If that many people fail to prepare for physical death by having a last will, how many more people fail to prepare their souls for Judgment by settling their differences with God?  Our relationship with God has been so poisoned by sin that even pagans admit that all men are sinners.  When confronted by their sin, many will smile and say, “Nobody’s perfect!”  So what do non-believers do with their sin?  Do they ignore that, too?  Do they really believe they will never be held accountable for their wrongdoing?

Some take refuge in the false notion that when death comes, they will simply cease to exist.  They tell themselves that there is no God, therefore, there can be no Judgment or punishment for sin.  That is a fatal mistake.  The Holy Bible teaches that we continue to exist after physical death and that there most certainly is a Judgment.

What happens to us after physical death depends upon what we do or fail to do before dying.  This is the most important matter facing any man, for once death comes, the die is cast.  There is no second chance and no going back to do things over again.

We urge everyone to study God’s Word on the subject of death and to prepare for its inevitable arrival.  For many, this will mean pulling their heads out of the sand, opening their eyes and ears and coming to faith in Christ before it is too late.  God is faithful to forgive all who come to Him seeking forgiveness (Ps. 86:5, Is. 55:7, Acts 3:19).  We also offer these affirmations about death for your consideration:

  1. Ordinarily, all men cling to this life, regardless of their beliefs about death.
  2. Pagans generally view the transition from life to death as a transition from something good to something bad.
  3. Christians view the transition from life to death as a transition from something good to something better.
  4. Christians facing death often have fear of the suffering that sometimes precedes death, but do not fear death itself.  This is not true of all Christians, but it is true of many.
  5. When a loved one dies, it is natural to grieve.
  6. If a loved one comes to faith in Christ (is saved) before dying, our grief at the loss should be tempered by the hope (meaning certain expectation) of an eternity in heaven for the departed.
  7. If a loved one fails to come to faith in Christ before dying (is not saved), he has no hope of heaven.  He will instead be condemned to an eternity in hell (see Affirmations 3).
  8. It is not possible for us to know for certain who has saving faith in Christ and who does not, but those who are saved generally exhibit less and less sin in their lives as they grow older.
  9. As soon as the eyes of the saved person close in death, the disembodied soul goes instantly to heaven to be with God.  There is continuity of existence.
  10. After the eyes of the saved person close in death, the body “sleeps” and is consigned to the grave awaiting resurrection, which will take place on the Last Day.
  11. As soon as the eyes of the saved person close in death, the soul enters an intermediate state as a disembodied soul in the presence of God, a state in which it remains until The End Of Time as we now know it.
  12. At The End Of Time Jesus will return, raise the body of the saved person from the grave and reunite it with the soul to make it part of a whole person once again.
  13. The resurrected body will be “glorified” and immortal.
  14. We don’t know exactly how our glorified bodies will look.
  15. Glorified bodies may be young or old in appearance, but they will be recognizable as the people they always were.
  16. Glorified bodies will be made perfect, without previous disabilities or other defects.
  17. After the resurrection of the dead will come The Final Judgment, when all will answer to Jesus for their conduct during their earthly lives.
  18. The Final Judgment takes place at The End Of Time.
  19. After The Final Judgment, those found righteous, despite their sin, by virtue of faith in Christ will live, body and soul united, with God in his kingdom forever.
  20. Those found unrighteous by virtue of their sin and rejection of Christ will be cast into hell (see Affirmations 3), where they will be punished forever.