Do You Believe in Life After Death?

On Sunday I asked, “Do you believe in miracles?”.  When Jesus walked on earth, the miracles He did were signs to reveal to people who He is.  The power of God was at work in him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  Even today miracles are evidence of God at work in our lives.   

Today I would like to pose another question, “Do you believe in life after death?” 

It might seem like an odd question to ask on a Catholic blog.  After all, to be Christian is to believe that Jesus died for our sins so that we might share in the resurrection to eternal life.  It is part of our identity as Christians.

Yesterday we celebrated the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  In the gospel reading for the day, Lazarus had already died.  Martha speaks of her belief that Jesus could have healed Lazarus.  Martha speaks of her belief in the resurrection.  Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Wow!

Jesus says even if we die, we will live.  Death is not the end. 

Isaiah writes, “On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations.  He will destroy death forever” (Isaiah 25:7-8a).

Jesus destroys death by first dying for us on the Cross and then rising in the Resurrection.  In his own Resurrection, Jesus shows us that He has power even over death.  He is not defeated by death.  Instead, He uses his death to reveal us something far greater than what we know in this world, everlasting life.

Every Sunday we profess in the Nicene Creed our belief in “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

The Nicene Creed serves as a summary of some of the core beliefs of our faith.  Our faith would not be the same without our belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Why?

Because our belief in the resurrection of the dead changes the way we look at the world, at least it should change it.  Does our belief in the resurrection of the dead change the way you look at the world?

Are you sure?

If you truly believe in the resurrection of the dead, it should effect the way you choose to live your life. 

Isaiah described death as the veil that veils all people.  If we see death as a final end, if death is a veil that keeps us from seeing eternal life, then we are going to see the things of this world as most important.  We will make life decisions in accord with this thinking.  We will make decisions based on what they bring us in this life.

For instance, if we see this world as all there is, we seek worldly pleasures.  This can lead us to seek sex for its physical pleasure.  In this view, celibacy makes no sense.  Why would anyone ever choose to be celibate?

However, when the veil of physical death is lifted, we see everlasting life and the glory of God.  We will make our choices knowing that there is something greater awaiting us in eternal life.  We will choose loving, committed relationships where sex is expression of love rather merely something we do for physical pleasure.  Celibacy is not for everyone but for those who are called to celibacy, it becomes a noble sacrifice offered for the glory of God.

If we truly believe in the resurrection of the dead, then we should see the impact of this in the way we live our lives.  Does the way you live your life demonstrate a belief in the Resurrection?

We are saved from our sins by Jesus’ death on the Cross.  We should not take this for granted.  There are those who say, “once saved, always saved.”  I would like to know where they find this in the Bible or apostolic teaching. 

In the Old Testament, through Ezekiel the Lord tells us, “And if the just turn from justice and do evil, like all the abominations the wicked do, can they do this evil and still live? None of the justice they did shall be remembered, because they acted treacherously and committed these sins; because of this, they shall die” (Ezekiel 18:24).  This says the just can lose their salvation.  Did Jesus change this?  If He did, I don’t know when or where.

We make a choice to let Jesus save us from our sins.  It is not a one-time choice.  When we make a free choice to sin, we are choosing to reject eternal life.  If we truly believe in the Resurrection, we should never choose sin.

Does this mean our salvation is lost forever when we sin.  Of course not!  Jesus died for our sins.  We can choose to repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness, “But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die!  None of the crimes he has committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the justice he has shown.  Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked—oracle of the Lord God? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:21-23). 

God sent Jesus for a reason.  Jesus comes not to condemn us but to save us (see John 3:16-17).

Jesus prepares a place for us in his Father’s House.  If we want to enter that place, then we must follow Jesus as the way and the truth and the life.  When we fall short, we turn to Jesus for forgiveness and for the grace to sin no more.

Do the decisions you make in your life show that you believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come?

Hand everything over to Jesus and He will save you.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff