What happens when I die?
by Pastor Greg Fowler
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But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive (Luke 20:37,38).
Read Luke 20:27–40
I cannot count how many times I have been asked what lies beyond the grave. With the popularity of celebrity atheists declaring that we just cease to exist when we die, and all we are is somebody’s memory until we fade away completely, so many people are confused about life after death. How can a life that is so rich and full of thoughts and emotions just stop? It doesn’t seem right, and it certainly doesn’t sit well in our souls.
When asked, Jesus addresses this question directly with some extraordinary good news. Jesus states in the clearest possible terms that we will continue to live beyond the grave. He uses the well-known expression of the resurrection and all the hope that is encapsulated in that. All the things that make us human, all the things that are the image of God, survive when our physical bodies cease to operate.
Jesus goes even further when he answers the question about the resurrection. He confirms that our new bodies will be of a different and eternal substance that won’t degrade ever again. In this way, physical pain and the scars that it leaves will not travel beyond death. God’s gift of life is pain-free. We will have a body so we can be recognised and connect with others; however, our relationships will be perfect with everyone else, so there won’t be the pain of rejection and jealousy. Our new life will be love realised without the stain of sin. Our new life beyond the grave will be a beautiful communion with God and each other.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the promise of eternal life. Thank you that we will be reunited with those we love. Thank you that the pain of body and soul will be no more when we live and worship in your presence forever. Amen.
Pastor Greg lives in beautiful Redland Bay with his wife, Connie, where they enjoy the beaches, weather and outdoor lifestyle of South Brisbane. He serves Faith Lutheran College, Redlands, as the college pastor.
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