The Bible tells us that God is a spirit (John 4: 24), and that He created man in His own image (Gen.1:26-27). God and man walked in perfect fellowship at the beginning of creation. When Adam and Eve our fore parents sinned against God that fellowship was broken, hence sin and death entered God’s perfect universe. “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men; for that all have sinned”(Rom. 5:12). “For the wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23).
The spirit and soul of man are everlasting. Though man may die physically, his spirit and soul cannot die; for after the physical death he still lives on in the realm of the departed souls. For man to be able to live and operate here on earth, which is the realm of the physical, the spirit and soul of man must have a container, a house – what we call a physical body. Although the physical body is subject to aging and death, the real man, which is the spirit man on the inside is an everlasting being and is not subject to aging and death because he is created according to God’s likeness (Gen. 1:27).
We see this truth, that though a man may die physically, yet he still lives on in the story the Lord Jesus narrated concerning Lazarus and the rich man(Luke 16:19-31). These two men once lived here on earth. When they both died physically they still lived on, possessed perfect consciousness, memory, feelings and emotions in the spirit realm. The rich man could still recognize Lazarus who was far away in paradise even though they were no longer in their physical bodies.
When God warned Adam that he would die if he eats of the forbidden tree (Genesis chapter 2). God was not just warning him about physical death; He was actually warning him about spiritual death, which is more terrible than physical death.
Spiritual death means separation from God. When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit they became cut off or separated from God. This spiritual death (as well as physical death) passed unto all men. Thus every man born into the world is born with spiritual death inherent in him right from the time of conception in the womb (Romans 5:12).
When Adam sinned he passed death unto his race. This is the reason David said in Psalm 51:5: “Behold, I was shaped in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This is true with all mankind. You don’t teach a baby how to commit sin but as the baby starts to grow it starts to show sinful tendencies and in due course the baby grows up to become what he really is by nature – a sinner. Man is not a sinner just because of the sins he commits, he is a sinner because he is of the seed of Adam(Rom. 5:12).
Spiritual death means separation from God. This spiritual death can lead to the second death. The second death is eternal separation from God in the domain of the damned in hell. This second death can only happen when a person refuses to forsake his sins, trust in and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour – that is to be born again.
When you are born again you are no longer dead spiritually. Your spirit man is regenerated or re- birth by the Spirit and power of God. The Bible calls it – a passing from death to life. The person who has passed from spiritual death (that is separation from God) to life (that is reconciliation and peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ) cannot die the second death.
Man is not an animal. He was not made to live and die like an animal as some claim. Physical death is not the end of a man. Physical death only terminates physical life and not the eternal life in man, for man was created a spirit and an everlasting being as his creator. As the Lord Jesus said in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19)- which was not a parable, but a true story of two men who once lived here on earth – in eternity there are two places of abode for departed souls – Heaven and hell.
Both of these places are everlasting. They are not a state of the subconscious mind; they are both real places of abode. They are as real as Lagos, London or Cairo. As a matter of fact, they are more real because they are everlasting places and they will not pass away like our present world would do one day.
There is heaven for those who have embraced God’s plan of salvation and reconciliation. That is those who have seen themselves as they really are – wretched sinners incapable of redeeming their own souls. Thus they have come to Jesus – “….The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”(John 1:29). And there is hell fire, the place of the second death for those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation for their souls.
Dear friend, it is only here on earth, while you are still alive in the flesh that you can decide where you will spend eternity. I plead with you. Why not now make peace with God through His only begotten son Jesus Christ, God’s only substitute for man’s sins. Come to Jesus, the author and giver of abundant and everlasting life. Confess your sins to Him and ask Him to come into your heart as your Lord and savior.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes unto the Father except through Me…. And he that comes unto Me, I shall by no means cast out” (John 14:6; 6:37).
“….And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water
of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
“…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die….” (John 11:25 -26).
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