A. The story is told of a minister who went to visit an older man at his home.
1. The minister said, “At your age you should be thinking about the hereafter.”
2. The older man replied, “Oh, I think about the hereafter all the time. No matter where I am – in the living room, upstairs, in the kitchen or down in the basement – I ask myself, ‘What am I here after?’ ”
3. Let me ask you - How much time do you spend thinking about the hereafter?
B. We love the great fairy tale stories of literature.
1. In the story of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy has her Emerald City. In the story of Peter Pan, Peter has his Never-Never Land. In the story of Alice in Wonderland, Alice has her Wonderland.
2. Every fairy tale engages a fantasy world where time stops and problems fade.
3. Many people put heaven in the same category – they find it as difficult to believe in an eternal heaven as they do in Oz, Never-Never Land or Wonderland.
C. As we continue our series Got Questions? Answering Faith’s Great Questions, we want to explore the question: “Is There Life After Death?”
1. Can reasonable people believe in existence beyond the grave?
2. The late, Beatles’ singer, John Lennon raised this question in a song he wrote in 1971, where Lennon invites us to imagine that there is no heaven or hell, only sky above us. He says it’s easy to imagine this if we try.
3. But the question for us is: What is the truth?
4. We don’t want to imagine something if it isn’t true.
5. What happens after death? Is death the end or is it a beginning?
6. If we think that heaven is a fairy tale, then what else is there?
D The truth of the matter is: In reality there are not that many possibilities.
1. During the course of history, only three answers have been proposed to these questions.
2. One possibility and position affirms that death is the end.
a. Whatever kills physical life also snuffs out the human spirit and personality.
b. In other words, nothing survives the funeral. When you are dead like Rover, you are dead all over.
3. Another possibility and position holds that life does not begin until death.
a. One version of this is the theory of reincarnation, which proposes a wheel of existence whereby one is born again and again.
b. The ancient Greeks held a slightly different view. They held that the soul is trapped in the physical body, and death releases the soul into real existence.
4. A third possibility and position is the Christian view, which affirms that life is worth living now and that it will continue after death.
a. For the Christian, heaven is a place of boundless joy, rediscovered relationship, and blissful worship of God.
b. Death is a transition from an earthly life to an eternal life.
E. Skeptics believe that Christians are not realistic.
1. They accuse us of using religion as a crutch for our weaknesses, and they think the idea of heaven is no more than pie in the sky.
2. What they are asking is simple: “Isn’t Christianity too good to be true?”
3. They conclude that because Christianity is founded on faith and hope, it simply can’t be real.
F. Atheistic humanists believe that man is an accident of the cosmos, is formed by chance and chaos, is directionless in life, and in the end is nothing but food for worms.
1. They would agree that their beliefs lead to utter helplessness, hopelessness, and nothingness.
2. But, they would say, “At least we are being honest. We are seeing life for what it really is. We don’t need any crutches, any lies, any God-talk just so we can delude ourselves into thinking life has some purpose.
3. Humanist Bertrand Russell wrote, “Our foundation is the firm foundation of unyielding despair.”
4. To the atheistic humanist, religion is simply a crutch for weak people, who can’t bear to face up to reality.
G. But is that true?
1. I would suggest that many Christians throughout history could hardly be classified as weaklings.
2. Those Christians were all too aware of reality.
3. Many Christians have endured all kinds of persecution because of their beliefs.
a. They have endured mocking, slander, false arrest, floggings, beatings, and imprisonment.
b. Many were crucified, burned alive, mutilated by lions, and used as wicks to light Nero’s gardens.
c. They hardly sound like weaklings – not a single crutch in sight!
4. That isn’t to say that Christians don’t know fear.
5. The thing that we Christians fear the most is the prospect of God’s mighty wrath and justice.
6. Jesus has taught us, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).
H. So, actually, it is the atheists who are seeking to escape from reality.
1. In his wonderful book, If There is A God, Why Are There Atheists? A Surprising Look at the Psychology of Atheism, Dr. R. C. Sproul maintains that atheism is a crutch for the ungodly.
2. Sproul says that because of their wickedness and ungodliness, they are unable to live in the real universe.
3. Bertrand Russell, the humanist whom I quoted earlier, is a prime example of this.
a. He lived an absolutely decadent, adulterous life.
b. Being unable to live in the real universe, which contained right and wrong, and a just and holy God, he invented an imaginary universe in which there is no God so his conscience wouldn’t drive him crazy.
4. Don Batten, the editor of Creation.com, writes: “Recently, I have had a lot of conversations with atheists. Many express a strong hatred of God. I have been at a loss to explain this. How can you hate someone you don’t believe in? Why the hostility? If God does not exist, shouldn’t atheists just relax and seek a good time before they become plant food? Why should it matter if people believe in God? Nothing matters if atheism is true.
Aldous Huxley, the brother of the atheistic evolutionist Sir Julian Huxley, advocated a drug-fuelled utopia. He gave the reason for his anti-Christian stance: “I had motive for not wanting the world to have a meaning…the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation, sexual and political.”
Like Huxley, some people don’t like God because they don’t like moral constraints—you can make up your own rules, or have none at all, if God does not exist.”
5. So, in reality, therefore, atheism is the crutch of the immoral.
I. But let’s get back to our original question: Is there life after death?
1. How do we know if there is something beyond the grave and how do we know what it is?
2. We, Christians, answer that question: “Because the Bible tells us so.”
3. See once we establish that there is a God and that the Bible is the Word of God, then we accept as truth what the Bible tells us.
4. Our Scripture reading from Hebrews 9:27 tells us that there is something after death: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…”
5. We could turn to hundreds of Bible verses that talk about the afterlife, here are just a few:
a. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (Jn. 11:25-26).
b. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Jn. 14:2-3).
c. Paul wrote: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (2 Cor. 5:1).
d. Paul wrote: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
e. Peter wrote: 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2 Pt. 3:11-13).
6. So we believe that there is life beyond the grave because the Bible makes that fact very clear.
J. But is there other convincing evidence for an afterlife? Yes, there is.
1. One piece of evidence is something we have already touched on today – the persecution of the church.
a. Christianity is the only religion based on the fact that it’s leader arose from the dead.
b. Neither Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad, Mary Baker Eddy, Gandhi, nor any other great religious leader made this claim.
c. What the apostles went forth to proclaim was that Christ rose from the dead.
d. Christ’s resurrection was the cornerstone of their preaching.
e. And it was for this that they were tortured and so horribly martyred.
2. The second piece of evidence for the afterlife is the character of Christ.
a. As I mentioned in an earlier sermon, even Jesus’ fiercest enemies testify to His integrity and the impact He has had on the world.
b. Jesus’ character was incomparable, and it was this same Christ who said He would be taken and judged by His own people, that He would be condemned and crucified, and that on the third day He would rise from the dead.
c. And it was this same Jesus whose words we read earlier in this lesson that said that He was going to prepare a place for us in heaven.
d. Jesus’ character makes us trust His promises.
3. Another piece of evidence for the afterlife is the resurrection of Christ.
a. The apostles testify to seeing Him alive after the resurrection.
b. On one occasion, Jesus appeared to over 500 people at once.
c. Jesus’ enemy, Saul of Tarsus was transformed into the Apostle Paul after Jesus made a personal post-resurrection appearance to him.
d. No one has ever been able to prove that the empty tomb was false, by producing the body of Jesus.
e. All of those who witnessed the resurrected Jesus stood by their testimony, even in the face of death.
4. Another piece of evidence for the afterlife is experiential evidence.
a. Many people have had near-death experiences and have returned with very similar details, telling either about heaven or hell.
b. Voltaire, the great unbeliever and skeptic, wrote prolifically against the Christian faith and against Christ, but in his last hours, he said, “O Christ, O Lord Jesus. I must die abandoned by God and man.”
1. His condition became so terrible that his associates were afraid to approach his bedside.
2. As Voltaire died, his nurse said that for all of the wealth of Europe, she would never watch another infidel die.
c. One of the most popular books of 2010 was Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.
1. The book hit #1 on the New York Times best seller list, and sold 1 million ebooks by April of last year.
2. Heaven Is for Real is the true story of Colton, the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska minister who during emergency surgery slipped from consciousness and entered heaven.
3. He survived the surgery and began talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.
4. Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born.
5. Colton then shared impossible-to-know details about each of them.
6. He also described a lot about Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit.
d. Now keep in mind that as helpful as near-death experiences can be to provide evidence that the grave does not end life, such experiences never dictate theology, and they should never be put on the same level as divine revelation.
K. Whenever a discussion of the afterlife takes place, we can expect this question: “But do you really believe in heaven and all that stuff about streets of gold, angels and choirs?”
1. For people growing up in a culture obsessed with here and now, and immediate sensual pleasure, the idea of heaven is indeed foreign.
2. People often do not find their perception of heaven to be very appealing.
a. Some see it as a foggy place where everyone has huge wings attached to flowing white garments.
b. For others, heaven is like an uninviting medieval castle sitting on a huge cloud. The golden streets and gates of pearl seem hard and cold to a culture used to wall-to-wall carpeting.
3. These are understandable misconceptions of the Bible’s treatment of heaven.
4. The last two chapters of the Bible list about 25 characteristics of heaven.
a. They are written in a book full of fantastic and fanciful images obviously intended for people living 2000 years ago.
b. A place where there is “no night” had great appeal to people who depended on oil lamps.
c. Thick walls were a great idea for those whose enemy was hiding in the ravines or woods nearby.
d. A street of gold and foundations of precious stones spoke of unimaginable luxury to a poor and needy populace.
5. Many people feel ambiguous about heaven.
a. They want life to go on, but only a certain kind of life.
b. More of what they have now is not what they want in the afterlife.
6. The biblical images of heaven really speak to this need.
a. The Bible says that heaven is a place of no pain, and no tears.
b. The Bible says that heaven is a place of justice, where wrongs are made right.
c. The Biblical poetic descriptions of heaven are intended to communicate that heaven is a place where human needs are fulfilled.
1. In heaven everyone will feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
2. In heaven there will be beauty, order and harmony.
7. Nina Donnelly tells of visiting a 9 year-old girl in the hospital.
a. The little girl asked her, “What’s heaven like?”
b. Donnelly replied, “Why do you ask?”
c. The little girl explained, “Because I have leukemia.”
d. Donnelly asked, “What do you think heaven is like?”
e. The girl replied, “No pain. To have my hair long again. To be able to run again. To be pretty again.”
f. Donnelly agreed and added, “That’s what heaven is like. That and seeing God.”
L. Donnelly captured the central concept of heaven – Heaven is seeing God and being with God.
1. The last chapter of the Bible tells us: The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever (Rev. 22:3-5).
2. The thing that separates heaven from fairy tales with happy endings is God.
3. The most important thing about heaven not its’ reward, but its’ relationship.
a. It is being with God. It is talking with God.
b. It is intimacy with a God who you love and who loves you.
M. Consider this illustration…Imagine someone takes you to a party.
1. You see a few friends there, you enjoy a couple of good conversations, a little laughter, and some decent appetizers.
a. The party is all right, but you keep hoping it will get better.
b. You tell yourself, “Give it another hour, and maybe it will get better.”
2. Suddenly your friend says, “I need to take you home right now.”
a. “What now?” you say. You’re disappointed…nobody wants to leave a party early, but you leave, and your friend drops you off at your house.
3. As you approach the door, you’re feeling all alone and sorry for yourself.
a. You open the door and switch on the light…surprise!
4. Your house is full of smiling people and familiar faces.
a. It’s a party – for you.
b. The tables are full of your favorite foods.
c. You recognize the guests, they are people you have not seen for a long time.
d. Then, one by one, the people you most enjoyed from the other party show up at this party.
5. This turns out to be the real party.
a. You realize that if you’d stayed longer at the other party, as you wanted, you wouldn’t be at the real party.
b. People faced with terminal illness or imminent death, often feel they’re leaving the party before it’s over – they have to go home early.
c. They may be disappointed as they think of all they’ll miss when they leave.
d. But the truth is, the real party is underway at God’s home – precisely where they are going.
e. They are not the one missing the real party; those of us still here are.
N. The ultimate question for each one of us is: “What will happen to you after you die?”
1. Death is something we all will eventually experience (unless Jesus returns while we are alive).
a. The statistics on death are staggering – the death rate is 100 percent.
b. We might be able to post-pone death, but it cannot be eliminated.
2. What happens to us after we die is determined by what we have done to prepare for death while we were alive.
3. Jesus tells us that there are two roads and two destinies.
a. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mt. 7:13-14).
4. The broad road with the wide gate leads to judgment, destruction and hell.
a. On that road, people seem to be having a wonderful time doing whatever they want.
b. But behind the fun and games on that road is emptiness, loneliness and insecurity.
c. Ultimately, it is a tragic road because it leads to hell.
d. Next week, Lord willing, we will address the question: How can a loving God send people to hell?
5. The other road, the narrow one with the small gate leads to heaven.
a. Traveling on that road is difficult because it goes against the grain of society.
b. On this road, there is also fun and laughter, but there is also a sense of destiny, hope and assurance.
c. For the person on this road that leads to heaven, death is not the end – it is just the beginning, and a very good beginning at that!
O. There is life after death.
1. Heaven is for real - it is no fairy tale.
2. The journey to heaven begins here and now.
3. So let me ask you: Which road are you on?
4. The only road to heaven is Jesus – He is the way and the truth and the life – no one can go to God the Father, except through Him.
P. Are you on the right road?
1. Are you prepared for life after death?
2. If you don’t know or aren’t sure, why don’t you talk with us about that.
3. God wants you to be sure; to have assurance about the afterlife.
Resources:
Skeptics Answered, by D. James Kennedy, Multnomah Books, 1997
Questions People Ask Ministers Most, by Harold Hazelip, Baker Book House, 1986
Prepare to Answer, by Rubel Shelly, 20th Century Christian, 1990
Living In the Light of Eternity, Sermon by John Hamby, SermonCentral.com
