The Undiscovered Country

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
12/30/12 - Sunday Morning

The Undiscovered Country

“Is there an afterlife?” “What is it like?” For many people what happens after death is a great mystery. Yet this is not true for the Christian. Years ago David said something that some people today would find unusual. In referring to the Bible of his time, the Old Testament, he said that he loved it (Psalm 119:97). This is far more than simply saying that he felt duty bound to follow it, or that he simply admired it. He loved it! How does one develop such a love for truth? One way is to realize just how many answers Scripture contains, not only to questions regarding the afterlife, but other essential questions as well. Scripture gives us a clear idea of who God is, what His expectations are and where we stand before Him (Micah 6:8). One can know very quickly where he or she stands before his or her Creator at this very moment simply by listening to Scripture (Acts 2:37). What a relief that we don’t have to go through this life wondering or guessing about where we stand, what is "out there", or what we should be doing. In the Bible we likewise have a very clear picture of what happens after death (Luke 16:19-31). In this lesson I want to explore a few things the Bible reveals about the after-life for those who love Him.

We Have People There

If you were not raised in a Christian home then you might wonder if you really have that many “people” awaiting you in the next life. Yet, remember:

The angels will escort us to Paradise when we die (Luke 16:22)!
It is easy to think of dying as what I must give up, leaving people behind or being alone. Yet, I believe the time of our existence when we are probably most alone, is our time on this earth. We will have far more close friends in the after-life than we ever had here.
The long list of faithful believers in past ages (Hebrews 11) wait for us. Have you ever met a person and immediately felt you made a life-long friend? We have many people awaiting us in the next life that value what we value, that see things as we see them and with whom we will be kindred spirits from start.
Faithful Christians that we knew in the past will be there. We will be reunited with older Christians whom we enjoyed and spent time with when we were new believers.
We will meet ancestors that we never knew who had obeyed the gospel long before we came on the scene. Imagine entering the after-life and meeting someone who says, “You don’t know me, but I lived 500 years before you were born, and we are related! I was a Christian too!”
Children that we may have lost due to a miscarriage or those who lived just a short time on this earth wait for us in the afterlife. When David’s son died, he said, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). These children are awaiting us. What will it feel like to see them for the first-time or seeing them again and hearing, “Mom!" or "Dad!”

A Place of Comfort

“Child, remember that during your life-time you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony” (Luke 16:25).

I have often wondered about what this “comfort” will include. Here are some thoughts:

Seems to me that such comfort ties in with Revelation 21:4 with the removal of all tears. This is a comfort that heals all the painful memories. If there are people that we loved, that did not choose God, then this comfort heals even that pain.
This comfort might include God revealing to us the full extent of our works (Revelation 14:13). That is, what was "the rest of the story?” What was the long-range influence of our efforts? We probably did far more than we thought. Maybe that person with whom we tried to share Jesus, but who rejected it at the moment—actually did become a believer.
Samuel found the after-life so comfortable that any return to this life was unwelcome (1 Samuel 28:15).
Everyday things happen in this world, in our lives that are loving reminders of why we do not want to stay here forever.

“I am Jumping Clean”

In both Testaments, heaven is pictured as a place for the pure, the godly, the righteous, and those who lives are clean from sin:

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4).
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
“And nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it” (Revelation 21:27).

And the wonderful thing is that because of God's indescribable grace and mercy, I can leave this life clean, completely forgiven of all sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

This is far from an impossible task. We are clearly told how to be forgiven if we are not a Christian (Acts 2:37), and if we are a Christian who has strayed, we can quickly get back to the Lord (1 John 1:9). As an example of how accessible forgiveness is, consider the thief on the cross. Here is a man who had lived a sinful life, and who had even joined in and ridiculed and mocked Jesus earlier that day (Matthew 27:44). Yet later that day this particular thief had a change of heart. He rebukes the other thief who still ridiculed and mocked Jesus (Luke 24:40). He owns up and accepts the responsibility for his sins, “we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds” (24:41). He notes the innocence of Jesus (24:41). And then simply asks for Jesus to remember him when He comes in triumph (24:42). Jesus did not tell him, “too late now”. Or, “you are only saying that because you are on your deathbed”. Rather, Jesus said, “Today you shall be with Him in Paradise” (24:43). One can be completely cleansed of sin in a matter of seconds—all it takes is the right attitude toward God. Therefore, if you or I confess our sins, we should never fear that those sins might be held against us. Never allow the devil to whisper in your ear, “Heaven does not want you”. God earnestly desires your well-being.

I Can Choose How to Exit

Obviously we cannot choose how we are going to die or when. Rather, like the thief I can choose with what perspective, attitude, and with what words I can exit this life. This can include:

Having written love notes to my mate, children and friends: Something that will motivate them to live life for God's honor.
Reminding the young and the healthy to enjoy their youth and vigor, but never to place their trust in such things. That such things are fleeting, while spiritual things are not. (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
Recording life lessons that you have learned.
Recording your answered prayers and how God has delivered you from so many things.
Planning one's funeral in a manner in which the living are both encouraged, comforted and convicted (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4).

Life is so short for all of us, and time passes so quickly. Never forget this: Our parting will be only temporary and in years to come when we see one another again, it will seem as if our time apart was but momentary in relation to an eternity worshipping God alongside one another.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.com
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net