Column: G. David Henderson: Sleeping in the grave, or alive in heaven when we die?

Published 9:02 am Saturday, September 1, 2012

“ … man did eat angels’ food” (Psalms 78: 25).

Last Saturday I heard a radio religious minister wrongfully preach that our human spirit sleeps inside our dead body that is inside caskets locked so tightly and underground, that nothing could breathe or sleep. One of many gross errors of such teaching doesn’t prove where the spirits are of people whose bodies were so completely destroyed, that there was no burial (written respectfully about such pitiful people and their families).

Jesus is our example in everything. Our death won’t be any different than his. At the moment of Jesus’ death here on earth he released his human spirit (himself) into God’s arms in Heaven (Luke 23: 46). Second Corinthians 5:18 reveals that our saved human spirit also arrives alive and fully awake in Heaven the moment we die. Our human spirit is the I, me and self of our person. Our body on earth is only a house wherein we live.

Acts 8: 54-64 records that while Evangelist Stephen was being stoned to death on earth, he saw Jesus standing in heaven to receive him (his saved human spirit). Luke 16: 22 records that the very moment Lazarus died, angels carried his alive, awake, saved human spirit (himself) into heaven. A non-religious man suffering alive in hell actually saw Lazarus alive and enjoying the comforts of heaven (Luke 16: 25).

Second Peter 1:11 teaches, that the moment we followers of Jesus arrive alive and awake at Heaven’s gate, a great, grand and glorious celebration welcomes us. Such celebration can easily be our happy, rejoicing, saved family members who arrived alive in heaven before our death.

The New Testament scriptures teach that we followers of Jesus will live in three separate bodies during our endless existence. Our first body, conceived by our parents is called, “earthly” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Our second body, we will receive the moment we enter heaven at death is called, “Heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15: 48-49). God will clothe us with our third body that is called “glorified” in Philippians 3:21, when our saved human spirit shall be re-united with our natural body on the earth conceived by our parents, when Jesus soon returns to earth.

Such body newly created by God will have us empowered to never sin in the new heavens and earth that God will create after his explosive fires destroy our present sinful earth, atmospheric heavens and all sinners (2 Peter 3: 7-13).

If you know any pitiful person who is grieving over the passing of his or her loved ones, please prayerfully consider contacting them to read — or send them — today’s very comforting, encouraging devotional. You just might be the one Jesus has chosen to bring them their much needed peace of mind — and possible joy — about their departed loved one.

Until the first Saturday of next month, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” Amen.

The Rev. G. David Henderson is the pastor of Temple of the Lord at 611 S. Green St. in Dalton. You can reach him at angelsfood@optilink.us. His column appears on the first Saturday of the month.