“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23).
What happens when this life is over has always been a fascination with humanity. While some do not believe the things revealed in the Bible, those who do believe take heed to the knowledge gained through the revelation. While things are known by faith now, things will be fully known by sight when this life is over. Consider three things that all will know by sight either at the moment of death or at the moment of the Lord’s return at the end of time should one be alive at the time.
- The Soul Lives Forever. The Bible plainly states, “the body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26). Notice that the body dies when the spirit leaves it. The spirit does not cease to exist. Solomon wrote, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). The Bible plainly teaches that the nature of man is dual in being: physical and spiritual. Luke recorded of the Lord himself, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost” (Luke 23:46). Evolution teaches that man is only fleshly in nature like the animal kingdom. Such a belief produces an adverse effect upon mind and conduct. One second after this life is over will reveal a sobering fact to the unbeliever. By the way, no one will be an unbeliever of this after the end.
- The Spiritual is the Most Important. Paul wrote, “For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6). How true will these facts be known by all when this life is over? Ecclesiastes is a book that explores the fact that the spiritual far outweighs the material in value. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). Sadly, multiplied numbers of people will have lived their lives exchanging their souls for that which does not profit them. Carnality in all its forms is most popular with the worldly mindset (cf. 1 John 2:16). The rich man in torments learned too late that his comfortable life apart from true righteousness was a path to misery.
- The Sacrifice for the Cause of Christ is Really Worth It. Sometimes people become so discouraged that they make a similar statement to what was said in the days of Malachi, “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” (Mal. 3:14). All will know in the end that such is foolish talk. Jesus said of the persecuted, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:12). Paul wrote to the Galatian brethren, “And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9). The righteous understand that one will suffer for wickedness (cf. Prov. 13:15) as well as for righteousness (cf. 2 Tim. 3:12). Trouble is part of this life (cf. Job 14:1; Matt. 6:34; Eph. 5:16). The end will bring full awareness to all that earthly living is for work in the kingdom. Learn now or learn later.
Jimmy Clark