What Happens When I Die?

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15

I. Our appointment with death - 15:21-22

Billy Graham [Quotes, 161] wrote, "The way we view death, determines, to a great degree, the way we live
our lives." Given that truth, we would be wise to understand death better. Remember these three simple
biblical truths:

[1] Sin produced death - 1 Cor. 15:56.

[2] Sin and death passed from Adam and Eve to all humanity.

According to Paul in Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned."

[3] Everyone has an appointment with death.

Hebrews 9:27states, "It is appointed unto men once to die, after this the judgment." There are four things
we cannot do about that day or appointment. We cannot change, delay, hasten or escape it.

This does not mean that God "pre-determines" the time of your death, but that He "foresees" the time of
your death. The appointment is based on two factors: [1] The sovereignty of God, and [2] the choices /
decisions we make, for good or bad, while we live. While tragedies like suicide may shock and surprise us,
God foresaw those events even before they occurred.

We should remember the words of the wise funeral home director in California. He signs all of his
correspondence with, "Eventually Yours." [Holy Humor, Cal and Rose Samra, 1996, 42]

II. Our transition through death - 15:51-52

Death is a transition to the afterlife. Further, the transition occurs simultaneously with death. We do not lay
in the grave or another state. While our body will stay in the ground, our spirit goes to be with the Lord
immediately. Paul wrote, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." [2 Corinthians 5:8]
This clearly refutes any notion of soul slumber.

King David shared some beautiful and reassuring truths about death in Psalm 23. "And yea though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." Notice two key words. The word "walk"
indicates that death is like a passage way that we travel. And the word "shadow" indicates that death does
not control us. It can touch you, like a shadow, but it cannot hold you.

Nothing hurts quite like the loss of a loved one. When such pain occurs, it can be helpful to remember what
happens at airports every day. Kent Crockett observed, "Travelers from a

ll types of backgrounds crowd onto jets, then taxi out to the runway. Frequently you will see remaining
family members pressed against the glass as they watch the plane take off. They will watch the aircraft
shrink into the sky until it vanishes from sight. At that point, someone generally says, 'Well, he's gone.' Yet
the truth is they're gone from our sight . . . not gone. In a distant place that plane will be spotted by a
welcoming committee who will likewise be gazing out the window. As they see the jet approach the runway
and touch down, someone will invariably say, 'He's here.' Death's pattern is much like a one-way airline
ticket." [Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Hendrickson Publishers, 1997, 217- CD]
III. Our transformation in death - 15:51, 53 42-22

Paul writes, "We shall be changed." He indicates that four things will change upon the death of a Christian:
[1] Our corruption will be changed to incorruption; [2] Our dishonor will be changed to glory; [3] Our
weakness will be changed to power; and [4] Our natural body will be changed to a spiritual body. All of that
reminds us that our sinful nature takes a toll on us physically and spiritually. But, according to 1 Corinthians
15:51-53, we will be changed either by the rapture or the resurrection.

If you travelled to Scottsdale, Arizona you will find the Alcor Life Extension Institute, home of 27 dead
patients. Ten patients paid $120,000 to have their entire bodies and seventeen paid $50,000 to have just
their heads frozen in liquid nitrogen at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit.

They believe that science will one day be able to thaw them out and grow them new bodies so that they can
live forever. [750 Engaging Illustrations, "Cryonics,"139]

I say save your money - there really is a better option - one that will actually transform you into an eternal
state. The option is God.

IV. Our destination after death - 15:48-49

Where does someone go after they die? There are only two options.

1. The lost go to eternal judgment in hell.

2. The redeemed go to heaven to be with God.

Although many in our culture either deny or ignore the reality of hell, it is a terrible place that no one needs
to experience. Faith in the saving work of Jesus changes the destination of the lost to heaven. When one
trusts the Lord to save him he can sing with the church, "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing
that will be; when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory."

"A young woman who lay dying sought to console her father who was overcome with grief. 'Dad,' she said,
'don't be so broken up. If I had received an offer of marriage from someone who was all you could desire for
me, and whose station in life was far superior to mine, but who wanted to take me to live in a remote part of
the world, don't you think you could have borne the separation, knowing all the advantages it would bring to
me? But I am now being promoted to a situation incomparably beyond anything that could have happened
to me in this world. Then why this reluctance to let me go? Our next meeting will be in far more wonderful
circumstances, joyful, and everlasting.' "[Source unknown, CD]

V. Our victory over death - 15:57, 20

We see two important facts in this text. First, death is our enemy. But, thankfully, Jesus is our Victor. By His
resurrection, Jesus broke the power of death. And in so doing, He promised that death would not be able to
hold those that believe in Him. If our Lord tarries, we will all succumb to death. Death will touch us like a
shadow, but it cannot hold us. But death is not the end by far.