The call came early one morning,
when I was barely awake. But I quickly realized that the caller was
deeply concerned. She wanted to know what happens to people after they die.
Her husband had died recently, and she had a friend who had lost her father
and had some of the same concerns the caller had.I believe this is a
common concern. It is amazing how many people who consider themselves
Christians and are members of some church still seem to be confused on this
question. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19-31,
is a good resource for understanding of this issue. Let us see what it tells
us.
I. WE PASS AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH TO OUR ETERNAL REWARD.
This was true for the rich man, whose name was Dives, and for Lazarus.
Lazarus, the beggar who had lain at the gate of the rich man on earth, went
immediately to Abraham’s bosom, which is an expression for heaven, and
Dives, the rich man, went immediately to hell.
The Scriptures know no other possibilities of reward or existence beyond
the grave than these two—heaven and hell. These "places" are presented as
"rewards" in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:46. Those who
did not serve the Lord through others are consigned to eternal punishment;
but the ones who DID serve God through others are called "righteous" and
enter into eternal life.
II. THE SOUL, OR HUMAN SPIRIT, IS INDESTRUCTIBLE.
Death brings a change, not an end. In the Scripture we find that we pass
by means of death directly to our eternal destiny—as is told us of Dives and
Lazarus. Also, in Luke 23 we have the account of one of the thieves who was
being crucified beside Jesus saying, "Lord, remember me when you come into
your kingdom." Jesus’s reply to him is clear-cut: "Truly I say to you, today
you shall be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). The force of the Greek text
is even stronger: "...THIS VERY DAY you shall be with me in Paradise."
Thus, the Bible-believing Christian cannot believe in either annihilation
(nothingness after death), soul-sleeping, or a probationary period
(purgatory), if we truly take the Bible, God’s Word, as our ultimate
authority in religion.
III. THERE IS CONSCIOUS EXISTENCE IN THE SPIRIT LIFE FOLLOWING DEATH.
In the case of Dives and Lazarus, such obviously was the case. Both men
knew who they were and WHERE they were. So will it be for everyone.
Recognition remained. They knew each other and "Father Abraham." We, too,
will recognize others in the life to come. Many people, in the very moment
of death, have spoken in such a way as to show they recognized Jesus and
loved ones who were waiting to greet them.
Moral awareness remained, also. Dives was aware that he had messed up in
his life on earth. But he had made his choice and it was too late to change.
Memory remained. Dives remembered his brothers who were still on earth,
and was concerned for them and their eternal destiny.
The one thing in this parable which is not applicable to us is the
ability which God obviously gave to Dives to see from hell to heaven. There
is no other Scripture which would support our thinking this is generally
true. We must conclude that this portrayal was a teaching tool to show
important truths.
IV. AFTER DEATH IT IS TOO LATE FOR REPENTANCE AND MERCY.
This earthly life is our opportunity and preparation time. We have a
stewardship of life and we are accountable. This surely is one of the main
points of this story. It is pitiable, but clear from this illustration, that
there is no relief for the sufferings of hell. When Dives begged Father
Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool off his tongue,
because he was in torment in flame, Father Abraham gently reminded Dives
that he should have thought ahead, while he was still alive on earth.
Other Scriptures confirm this teaching (Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:48; 2
Thessalonians 1:9).
Then, too, it is made clear that there is no possibility of passing from
heaven to hell or vice-versa. Father Abraham spoke of the "great chasm"
fixed between heaven and hell.
V. NO ONE CAN COME BACK TO EARTH AFTER DEATH TO WARN US.
We must hear and heed God’s Word NOW. We must lay up treasures in heaven
while there is still opportunity here. We are faced here and now with the
choice of where and how we will spend eternity.
When Dives next begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to
warn Dives’s brothers, lest they wind up like him, Father Abraham says they
have ample testimony in the Scriptures, and if they do not heed that they
would not heed even if someone went to them from the dead.
This seems clearly to say there is also a fixed gulf between heaven, hell
and earth, and that the dead cannot know what is going on here on earth and
cannot communicate with the living. In Revelation 21:4 we are told: "And God
shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any
death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first
things have passed away." This is speaking of the blessed life of those in
heaven. If they could be aware of what is going on here on earth, they would
surely experience "crying, mourning and pain." So, this tells us that there
is no communication between the dead and the living.
