(July 25, 2010) A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang

< Witnesses of Life after Death > (2)

Last Sunday I have mentioned about the definition of biblical understanding of death: Which is a phenomenon of separation. And there are two kinds of death according to the biblical description. One is “physical death” – means: a permanent separation between a person’s body and soul (spirit). Another one is “spiritual death.” Now let me describe about the spiritual death.

Before we continue to talk about the spiritual death, one concept we should recognize: Our human soul (spirit) is imperishable. Namely, after the physical death, the soul (spirit) will be automatically separated from the body. And this soul (spirit) will move either going to heaven or hell (cf. Luke 16: 19 – 31.)

About the “second death,” the Book of Revelation mentions 3 times:

1. 20: 6 – It describes that those who receive the first resurrection will have no second death. This group of people will become priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Christ for a thousand years.

2. 20: 14 – It mentions that all the dead people will receive judgment before the great white throne. Those who cannot find their names in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire with the evils. That is the second death.

3. 21: 8 -- It tells us that those who are coward, the unbelievers, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, and who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars will be thrown into the lake of fire. That is the second death.

The meaning is very obvious. The second death means: the souls (spirits) which are not cleansed by the blood of Christ will be separated permanently from the presence of God’s love and blessing and go into the lake of fire (a place of curse forever.) One can tell: this present physical world is getting worse in every aspect; yet, God is still supporting it and keeps it in God’s hands. That is why even the evil doers still can live in this world comfortably. But as long as the evil doers are removed and separated from God’s love, that will be hell forever. And because of that, please never enjoy in the sinful deeds that is a very stupid behavior.

I remember when I was young; I had a grand uncle, my grandfather shared the gospel with him but he did not accept. When he past away, my parents took me to visit this family. This family told us that when my grand uncle at the moment of his death, all excrement came out. My grand mom comforted the family by saying, “He probably was doing cleansing.” But now I know it was probably because of fear and being shocked by the evil from the hell.

I have a schoolmate; he once was a pastor serving at a countryside church in Taiwan. He told me that there was a time he presided a very big funeral, about 5, 6 thousand people attended. When the casket was brought to the cemetery, still many people were line up and not moved from the home yet. But unfortunately, according to my friend, this person was not saved. The reason was: when he was about departing, he grasped his wife’s hand (she was a very good and devoted Christian) and shouted, “I am scared! I am scared!” His wife asked him, “Why?” He answered, “Many ghosts want to get me!” He was terrified until he took his last breath. My friend told me that when this man was still very alive, his wife urged him many times to accept Christ to be his Lord and Savior. But he kept saying, “I am too busy to believe!” Unfortunately, his wife’s strong belief could not save him, because salvation belongs to everyone individually. No one can earn salvation for another one!

I have heard and seen, in Chinese community in the USA, Chinese people work very hard in order to earn a lot of money. Unfortunately, when someone died, the family members will purchase a very expensive casket for the dead (sometimes it cost about 50 or 60 thousands of US dollars.) To me it is not necessary. Why? After a person is dead, the remained was a physical decayed body. It doesn’t matter what kind of casket, when the dead body is buried, eventually it will be rotten. The most important issue is: Where did the soul (spirit) go? It is eternal.

When we are still alive, I urge all of us “Do not owe anyone anything! Or keep hatred!” Eventually, the debts will chase after you, if you have any! Especially do not owe the debt of sin, because Satan will follow wherever you go unless you pay off. Actually, no one has the ability to pay off the debt of sin, except in Christ Jesus that he will pay for us because he has died on the Cross to pay off our sins. It is the great news: In Christ, we are paid off. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17) It is the most wonderful blessing! Have you received?