How God Sees Life and Death

God sees life and death very differently than we do. He is just as close to me now as He will be when I am in heaven. But for now, I’m only partially aware of His closeness. That will change when I leave this earth and this "earth suit" for His heavenly presence. For those who belong to Jesus, He sees our death in this world as a rescue away from the evil, corruption, trauma, and flat out horror of this present world age.

There is an astounding truth in an often overlooked passage. It's found in Isaiah 57:1-2 (NIV):

The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

Many people, Christians included, see this life and this world as being real because it's all they know. They then HOPE that the "next" world will be real, too. But they're not really sure, so they're very afraid of their lives in this world ending.

Many Christians see their lives as two threads. The first thread is their life here in this physical body. They think that thread will stop when their physical body dies. They hope the second thread, their life in heaven, will start after the first thread ends, but they're not really really really sure that it will be there for them. 

The actual, scriptural truth is very different. If you’re a Believer in Jesus, God sees your life as a single thread. It started as part of the fabric on earth and extends through the spiritual world of heaven for all eternity. It's gone through the transition of being born again, but it's still just a single thread.

For most people, death is a mysterious and fearful portal. To born-again Jesus followers, our lives are a straight line of life in this world, through the death of the physical earthly body, to greater life in that world; for unbelievers, it’s a straight line from death in this world to death in that one. 

For each person, eternity will be spent in heaven or in hell, one or the other. There's no in-between, no so-called purgatory. So, if you don't belong to Jesus, now would be a good time to get that settled. You can't earn what He's done for you, but you can surrender to Him and accept that He has bought you and will now transform you.

For each and every person, He will say either “Depart from Me, I never knew you” or “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” 

I think that Judgement Day will be the hardest time for the Lord Jesus, harder even than the crucifixion. As incredibly bad as it was, He knew the crucifixion was temporary suffering. On Judgement Day, casting out those He loved enough to die for will be permanent. That will break His heart.

Matthew 10:28 (NKJV):

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

For the followers of Jesus, the troubles and griefs and yes, even death in this world will not…CANNOT…shake or cancel what He has promised. If you’re following Jesus, that is, if you belong to Jesus, do not be afraid of leaving your body behind in this world. This world is not our home. We're just passing through. Leaving this physical body is your RESCUE from this place. That’s how God sees it.

Isaiah 54:10 (NIV): 

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

I'm going to wrap this up by leaving you with a song. Check it out.

"All My Tears (Be Washed Away)" - Selah, featuring Kim Hill 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UK0X3983wk