Irrespective of many other beliefs, the Bible declares that man is triune, that is, he is spirit, soul and lives in a physical body – I Thessalonians 5:23
From time immemorial, the question has been asked as to whether man’s consciousness survives death.
The view of some is that when a man dies, his consciousness and personality vanish forever.
Man, once reasoned that when materials are burnt by fire, only a few ashes are left. Consequently, they reasoned, man too, when he died, would be consumed by worms and becomes nothing, and the person would be gone forever.
Those who hold this view, in general, look for excuses not to believe in God, the Creator of man and indeed all things.
To them, since death ends everything, what good is there to seek to live a righteous life?
They follow the principles of the Greek philosopher Epicurus – devotion to pleasure, comfort, and high living; and saying let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
But is their view correct? The answer is emphatically no!
Scientific Findings
In time, Science discovered and established what it called the law of indestructibility of matter and the conservation of energy. This came about by experiments where some material, be it paper or wood, was burnt. The gases emitted from the combustion were collected, and weighed together with the ashes. The combined weight was found to be the same as that of the original material before it was burnt.
Later, Science was able to split the atom, the basic unit of matter, showing that matter could be dissolved after all. Further scientific experiments showed that when matter was dissolved, it reappeared in the form of energy. Albert Einstein gave the process the familiar formula: E = MC2
Additional scientific experiments showed that energy could be changed back into matter, so nothing was ever lost. Man had power to change matter into energy and vice versa, but he could not create it or annihilate it. If it has been so established that matter and energy cannot be annihilated, then it is apparent that life and human consciousness, which exist on an infinitely higher plane than dead matter cannot be annihilated. The plane of existence may change, but physical death cannot and does not annihilate the human spirit. It exists somewhere.
That brings us to the Biblical truth, that was written thousands of years ago.
The question of life after death was indeed once asked in the Bible, and it was answered:
Job 14:14-15 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
The question was followed with statements that answer in the affirmative – death is a change of plane of existence; and when God calls, the dead shall answer.
There is a more explicit answer in another chapter of the same Book of the Bible:
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Thus, the Bible invalidates the belief that man will be consumed by worms and becomes nothing.
Christ is certainly the most qualified of all men who ever lived in this world to give us the true facts concerning the status of the human spirit after it departed from this world. He is most qualified not only because of His Deity, but because He is He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, He is alive for evermore, … and have the keys of hell and of death – Revelation 1:18
He gave us the facts in His story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus:
Luke 16:22 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;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The story reveals that Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were all conscious after death, for all of them could hear, see and talk. The rich man could taste, for he wanted water applied to his tongue; he could feel, for he was tormented; he had memory, for Abraham said, “Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime”; he had remorse, for he wanted Lazarus to go and preach repentance to his living brethren.
The spirits of Lazarus and Abraham, who represented the righteous dead, were in Paradise, a place of comfort.
On the other hand, the spirit of the rich man, who represented the wicked dead, was in hell, a place of torments.
What a sad picture! This is the situation of those who depart this world without having accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
These people have heard the Gospel and have had opportunity to accept Christ but have never responded to the call.
Christ’s description of the rich man’s experience in hell is a matter of the solemn importance.
Every human being should make a resolution, if he never makes another, that he will not go to that place, for his spirit must at physical death go somewhere, and it is all-important that hell not be the place.
Where will your spirit spend eternity?
Yet, no man can save himself by his own strength or righteousness. He must flee to Christ, Who has promised to accept all that come to Him, for He said, “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37); “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3); “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:7).
Please consider these Words of Jesus, and be sure to make the right decision – receive Him as your personal Lord and Saviour: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)
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