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What happens when someone dies? This is a question which at some time most of us may think about. The answer will probably be influenced by your religious beliefs. For some those beliefs will include a belief that on death they continue living in the form of another person or animal which possesses their spirit. This was one of the earliest ways by which man tried to convince himself that death is not as final as it appears.
Yet the Bible clearly teaches that on death all consciousness ceases and an individual’s breath or life force returns to God. “Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust” (Job 34:12-15). “You hide your face, they are troubled; you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust” (Psalm 104:29). “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:4). “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). This means that the human life force is not free to possess another living creature, be it a person or an animal, so that their personality continues through them. Likewise, the Bible makes clear that different living creatures have differing natures; thus humans and animals are different, and consequently there can be no possibility of any kind of cross over taking place. “So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good . . . Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so . . . Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen 1:21,24,26). “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds” (1 Corinthians 15:39). To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible)
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The world in which we live is, as never before, a time of new ideas. Many are disillusioned with the “old” ideas of previous generations: they have turned away from traditional religion which used to dominate men's lives; there is even a growing disillusionment with science and technology which not so long ago seemed to offer a way forward with promises of limitless power and energy, with new inventions taking away drudgery and repetitive mind numbing work. Yet such advances create problems of their own, such as pollution and unemployment. Similarly, traditional politics and forms of government are increasingly viewed with scepticism. So it should be no surprise that increasing numbers of people are looking for change; seeking
alternatives to the failed and failing philosophies of the past. Yet those seeking such alternatives are ignoring the fact that already in the Bible is a blue print for a new world, set out by God, a plan which hasn't changed and is ageless. At heart of this plan is the physical return of Jesus to the earth. “. . . Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21). “. . . as He (Jesus) went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:10,11). “Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” (Revelation 21:5). Much of the detail of all the things to be made new is to be found in the books of the Old Testament; for example: “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose . . . Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water . . . They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:1-10). To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. There a great many people who believe in ghosts, the residual presence of a dead person or even an animal. A presence which, it is claimed, at times may be seen or felt. Yet this idea is in complete opposition to what the Bible teaches about death and the dead.
“As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore” (Job 7:9,10). “As drought and heat consume the snow waters, so the grave consumes those who have sinned” (Job 24:19). “Shall your loving kindness be declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in the place of destruction” (Psalms 88:11). “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). “For Sheol cannot thank you, death cannot praise you; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your truth” (Isaiah 38:18). “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28,29). This being the case it follows that it is futile to attempt to contact or communicate with the deceased. Yet there are many who do so and are willing to pay those who claim to facilitate such communication. Such endeavours are condemned in the Bible. “And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people” (Leviticus 20:6). “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:10,11). “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance” (1 Chronicles 10:13). To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible) “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23,24).
Marriage was instituted by God at the creation of man as one man with one woman for life. Jesus confirms that this is God’s intention for marriage: “. . . Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6). The woman is there to be supportive of her husband and to be able to care and provide for him. The man is there as a leader, protector and provider for his wife allowing them to work together to build a loving home in which God is honoured. When problems arise it is important to face them in prayerfulness and faith and to discuss things together. It is a relationship that has to be worked at; the quality of which is explained by the apostle Paul. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her . . . For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh . . . Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:22-33). The marriage should be based upon a common understanding in which their mutual love aims to glorify God in all things. Marriage is a desire to assist one’s spouse to attain to the Kingdom of God. To learn more about what is in the Bible, read it for yourself with the help of a free Bible Reading Guide and Planner. Copies may be requested by email using the link provided on this Web Site. (Quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible) |
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