Why Do We Care About the Bible? - Solutions to Death

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In part one of this blog series on why we care about the Bible we looked at what the Bible does for us. We saw how it helps us understand and appreciate life. In this second part we’ll see that we care about the Bible because it’s the sole source of the truth about death.

Going through the death of a loved one is emotionally devastating. For something that symbolizes such finality, it sure seems to only open up more questions. What now? What will happen to them? What will happen to me? Are they watching me from heaven? Are they suffering in hell? Or are they just nonexistent for the rest of eternity?

People deal with the trauma of death in lots of different ways. One of the most common I see is a passive resignation to death as just “part of life.” It’s natural, goes the idea. Not a big deal. You’re born, live out your time, and then you die. Short and sweet. It’s easy to see this as being a reasonable and realistic outlook.

But it’s not what the Bible says about death. We care about the Bible because, out of all the philosophies, belief systems and perspectives about death in the world, it’s the only one that tells the straight truth and gives us hope.

Get this idea of death being eternally “normal” out of your mind. The Bible describes death as an “enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26). It’s an unnatural state of existence that only came about through Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12). When you have to face death, remember that it’s not supposed to be this way. God is the God of the living (Luke 20:38), and it’s His goal to make eternally deathless life a reality for every person (2 Peter 3:9).

The Bible shows us that, since death isn’t what God had in mind for His children, He’s giving us a way to overcome death. To prove it’s possible, Jesus the Messiah, God in the flesh, came to earth and sacrificed His sinless life to prove it can be done (1 Thessalonians 5:10). Once dead, Jesus is now very alive, sitting at the right hand of God the Father and continuing to give us hope in the battle against death (Hebrews 7:25).

Why do we care about the Bible? Because the Bible says that death is temporary and will be abolished one day (Revelation 21:4). We care about the Bible because it is a book of hope for everyone.

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Comments

  • Ivan Veller
    “God is eager to establish [a] relationship [with us]. But He conditions it on our willingness to recognize, acknowledge and repent of our former ways and determine to seek Him”: http://www.ucg.org/bible-study-lesson/bible-study-course-lesson-7-calling-god/god-wants-relationship-us/ "God's ultimate purpose for [humanity] is that [we]…enjoy eternal life in the family of God. Since God is not calling everyone now (John 6:65)," by choice "He is not judging every person now to grant or deny him eternal life (John 12:47-48).” For the majority of mankind, “God reserves this kind of judgment for...later, when they will” be better prepared to make a painfully informed, rational decision – based on the evidence of comparing both ways of life – to “fully grasp God's truth as it is presented to them" at that time. "Only then [will] they be...judged on the basis of that truth.” Sometimes, He temporarily withholds truth (coming, as it does, with obligations), so as to “not hold people accountable for what they don't know"—waiting until they would be most receptive to His truth: http://www.ucg.org/gods-holy-days/what-does-bible-say-about-gods-judgment/ Thus, it would be out of mercy that He withholds knowledge until people would be willing, at a later date, to more critically and objectively assess their values and priorities. “God allows mankind to learn —partly by firsthand experience—that the only way of life that will work is the way of life He reveals in…the Bible. That lesson will not be complete until all of humanity has learned that ‘every word’ of God's revealed instructions is vital to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being”: http://www.ucg.org/booklet/there-really-devil/did-god-create-devil/why-does-god-allow-satan-influence-mankind/ In summary: God, being merciful, limits access to additional truths unless people prove their commitment by wholeheartedly following through on what they learn. Rather than waste their one and only chance at salvation, God simply decides to give them their opportunity at a later date—when they will hopefully be more likely to choose to be faithful. Presumably, this is one reason why "faithful obedience to God's perfect laws and instruction as shown in Holy Scripture...is necessary for” God to grant “continued spiritual understanding": http://www.ucg.org/booklet/how-understand-bible/live-what-you-learn/ Does this help?
  • Ivan Veller
    Hi londonbrandon, Your question is thoughtful and ties in perfectly with another one of yours: http://www.ucg.org/sermon/lack-knowledge/ Long answer: God "has a plan that [ultimately] provides all with ample opportunity to choose to live forever." "Not everybody is being called to salvation and eternal life [at this time]": http://www.ucg.org/doctrinal-beliefs/everyone-being-judged-now/ This begs the question of why “God's calling is…not yet offered to everyone[??]”: http://www.ucg.org/bible-study-lesson/bible-study-course-lesson-7-calling-god/gifts-god-foundation-his-relationship-us/ One possibility is that God intentionally withholds understanding from some until they are ready. “God looks on the heart, our attitude and approach, to determine” when “to give us understanding”—because “[‘]in every nation whoever [“respects” (GWT)] Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him’ [Acts 10:34-35].” If our actions show that we’re not “ready [and willing] to do as [H]e says” (MSG), then mercifully “God likely will not open the Scriptures' true meaning to us” at this time. “His truths will remain hidden… [I]f we don't humble ourselves and become teachable…God will not help us to grasp His Word” until we are ready to receive it: http://www.ucg.org/booklet/how-understand-bible/approach-bible-proper-attitude/ This is out of mercy—because everybody has only one chance at salvation, and once God reveals truth to a person, then He has to hold them responsible for whether or not they obey it: “[A] person who has knowingly refused God's calling and the way of life He reveals has only the lake of fire to look forward to, which will end his or her existence for eternity (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-29)”—God doesn’t want that. Thankfully, “[h]owever, there is another type of unbeliever—one who never had the opportunity to choose or reject God's way of life...and therefore had no chance at salvation [Ac. 4:12]...” Sometimes God intentionally withholds spiritual truths from some, for a while, because “[a]nyone, living or dead, whose mind God did not open to spiritual understanding hasn't begun the judgment process that ends with a decision (sentence) of eternal life or of death"—a process God sometimes intentionally delays until the time is right: http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/will-everyone-have-chance-salvation-what-happens-after-death-resurrection-judgment-day (continued)
  • londonbrandon
    Hi Milan. Faith is a path to truth?
  • Milan Bizic
    Hi londonbrandon, It’s simply a question of faith. Any philosophy or religious belief ultimately comes down to exactly that: belief and faith. As for where my faith in the truth of the Bible comes from, it’s from my personal experience and knowledge of God working in my life. I realize that isn’t and can’t be proof for you, but it’s all I need to know that I need to listen to the God of the Bible and believe what He says. Once I reached that conclusion, it was easy to understand what the Bible means when it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10). As for the Bible being contradictory in regard to the question of death, I have to disagree. Considering the Bible was recorded in segments over the course of several thousand years, and by dozens of different authors, its internal consistency regarding the topic of death is nothing short of miraculous. For instance, Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes that “all go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to the dust.” In other words, people die and go into the ground. Luke writes about the exact same concept in the book of Acts: “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed” (Acts 13:36, New Living Translation). So both the Old and New Testaments agree: People die, are buried and turn back into the dust they were made from. Both Old and New Testaments also agree that there will be a resurrection from the dead and a transformation from physical to spirit. Daniel writes: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Job also apparently understood this concept: “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes” (Job 14:14).
  • Smokkinaces
    This is such a blessing for those of little faith,to be able to find solace as well as a better understanding of the meaning of death,I personally used to be so scared of my mortality,as (I guess many others are) till I actually took Jesus Christ as my lord and savior,and the more you learn from articles such as these,the more you lose that fear!So I say ThankYou for these educational articles,and pray more and more people find help and understanding through them.GOD BLESS YOU ALL! SM
  • 2balite
    Anytime we have good news about what happens after death, the truth about death, it is well worth sharing on Facebook. I have many family and friends who are not affiliated with any church who are listening to what we have to say. Thank you for this article of truth.
  • londonbrandon
    (Re: the Bible out of all the belief systems about what happens after you die... I have some sincere questions:) "it’s the only one that tells the straight truth" I'm curious as to how you came about this claim. (?) Assuming someone spent their life trying, I have no idea how anyone would ever be able to tell whether they have or haven't evaluated all philosophical, religious, (etc.) assertions... And of course then I would have to ask what test or mechanism you have found that substantiate one afterlife thesis over another... and whether or not this proof renders faith inconsequential/irrelevant etc. And when you say Bible I assume you are specifically not including the alternative ideas found in Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Job, or really, any of the old testament canon... (?) I mean, certainly... the author of Ecclesiastes does not accede to the same ideas we find from the new testament authors... (right?)
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