Q:
What happens to us in the first minute after we die? Do we enter heaven immediately, or do our souls go into some kind of a sleep until the end of time, when our souls and our bodies will be reunited? I've always had lots of questions about heaven.
A:
The Bible doesn’t answer all our questions about heaven and life after death – and the reason is because our minds are limited and heaven is far too glorious for us to understand. Some day, all of our questions will be answered – but not yet. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
However, the Bible certainly does indicate that when we die we enter immediately into God’s presence if we belong to Christ. From our earthly point of view, death looks somewhat like sleep – but not from God’s point of view. Paul declared, “We are confident (of eternal life), I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Elsewhere he wrote, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23).
Later, we will be given new bodies – bodies that will never age or be subject to death, because they will be like Christ’s resurrection body. As the Bible says, “The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Is your hope in Christ? Death is a reality – but so is God’s offer of salvation in Christ. Don’t put off your decision for Him, because you could be called into eternity at any moment – and then it will be too late.