CHURCH
LUTHERAN
Our Savior's of Elderon
19TH PENTECOST 16 INI LUKE 16:19-31
Have you ever heard the song “Holes in the Floor of Heaven,” by Steve Warner? It goes like this:
One day, shy of 8 years old
When Grandma passed away
I was a broken hearted little boy
Blowing out that birthday cake
How I cried when the sky let go
With a cold lonesome rain
My mom smiled, said “Don’t be sad child.
Grandma’s watching you today.”
Cause there are holes in the floor of heaven
And her tears are pouring down
That’s how you know she’s watching
Wishing she could be here now
Sometimes if you’re lonely
Just remember she can see
There are holes in the floor of heaven
And she’s watching over you and me.
The idea that there are holes in the floor of heaven and our departed loved ones are looking over us, looking after us, is very popular today. There are also psychics like John Edwards who claim to be able to talk to the dead. As a matter of fact, the number of psychics continues to grow which means people are listening. I would venture to guess that many believe the spirits of loved ones who have died have not left this world, as the Sixth Sense movies depict.
What do you believe? Do you think that there are living souls of departed people out there talking to us? Do you think they’re waiting for a proper burial or for something specific to happen before they can leave this earth? Maybe you’ve actually seen pictures of ghosts or had a personal experience with something that scared the pants off of you.
Personally, I haven’t. And I’m not here today to debate whether about whether you saw or felt a “presence” at some time in your life. The purpose of today’s sermon isn’t to debate about what we think or feel. Instead we’re here to listen to what God has to say because proper faith, true faith only comes through hearing God’s message. And although God doesn’t say a lot about what happens to the soul after death, we do have some information to go on. So let’s open our hearts and minds this morning and consider God’s answer to the question;
WHERE ARE WE GOING BETWEEN NOW AND FOREVER?
What does God’s Word say?
The truth is God’s Word never suggests or supports the idea that the spirits of dead people are walking around talking to us. Just look at the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus! What does it say? 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”
There is no mention of Lazarus or the rich man waiting around on earth. At the time of death, they were immediately escorted to the eternal destinies. There was no in between.
And when the rich man wanted Lazarus to go back and warn his brothers, what did Abraham say; ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” What does that mean? First, it means that the rich man was not able to communicate to his brothers from hell. And the only way Lazarus could have communicated with them would be if he rose from the dead. Of course, even then it wouldn’t have done any good. So, if it doesn’t do any good for those in heaven to come back to earth and those in hell can’t get out that must mean that the dead do not walk among us or communicate with us.
That’s the answer God gives in his Word. Yet, there are many religious bodies who insist there’s some kind of in-between place, maybe on here on earth, but someplace. The Roman Catholic Catechism says; “All who died in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” They call this state of being between heaven and earth, purgatory. The base it on quotes from the church fathers and an apocryphal book not found in the Bible.
Joseph Smith also said that the spirits of Mormons who have died “are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, emotions and are often pained therewith.” (Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith, pg 326) I’m sure there are other church bodies and individuals who believe things like this.
Why believe it?
The question is; “Why do they insist that there are living spirits among us?” Perhaps the first reason is because it’s very hard to let go. God didn’t create us to die. Yet, thousands of people die every day; moms, dads, brothers, sisters, children, spouses, grandparents and on and on. These family members and friends are missed terribly. Wouldn’t you just love to have one more dance, one more day, one more hug or communication from a loved one? So if someone offers you the hope that a loved one is able to see you and communicate with you, you want to believe it. That’s why people believe what they want to believe, no matter how far-fetched it may be.
Why do some religions believe there’s an in-between point? The Catholic Catechism says; “the church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharist sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.”
What about the Mormons? They explain that those in the in-between land must, “suffer in full for their sins” before “they will be allowed to enter the lowest degree of glory.” They also have a place where the spirits can progress from one level to another as they learn Gospel principles and live according to them.
Isn’t it interesting that both of these religions know that God demands holiness and threatens punishment to those who are not holy. They also know it’s impossible to achieve that holiness in this lifetime. So what they’re doing is trying to push back the deadline as much as possible. They’re just like kids who are trying to stall instead of going to bed or kids stalling for more time before studying for a quiz. If they can stretch this time out with purgatory or some other in-between place, then they’ll have more time; first to suffer for not being holy and secondly to improve their lives.
Now during this extended time, the living can make sacrifices for the dead. They can pray for them and be baptized for them and the like. Then, maybe, over time, they’ll eventually enter heaven. So you’ll see Catholics praying for the dead, having Eucharist for them, hoping their works will get their loved ones into heaven.
You’ll see Mormons working like crazy to get baptized for all their cousins so they can get into heaven. It’s interesting that they come up with similar solutions to the problem of standing before God who demands holiness. The sad fact is that they’ll never achieve it, not even if they had a million years to do it.
Now, perhaps you’re wondering; “Pastor, why are you picking on these people? They may be misled but at least they’re trying.” That’s true. They are trying. At least they’re thinking about it and worried about it. It’s better than a majority of people in this world who don’t even think about. They live as if life was all about retiring and getting possessions and money. They ignore that fact that one day they will die.
I’d compare such people to a blind person walking across a busy intersection. Even though he can hear the cars and knows the dangers, he thinks he won’t get hit. If you just live your life and don’t think about the fact that someday you’re going to die and stand before God, you’re blind. You could die today and stand before God in a moment. Think about that.
If you want to get into heaven, you have to be holy, not tomorrow, not 20 years from now, but right now. You won’t get any time in purgatory to get purified. Your souls won’t have the opportunity to wait for more sacrifices to be made or to make up for what was left undone. The time is now. Are you ready?
What does it all boil down to? It doesn’t matter what you think or how you feel. The only thing that matters is what God says in his Word. What does God’s Word say? It all boils down to whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? On the cross Jesus declared, “It is finished.” God’s Word makes it very clear what that means. It means that Isaiah’s promise was fulfilled, that sin was paid for. It means that we have been made holy once and for all through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. (Hebrews 10:10)
God’s Word tells us that Jesus was your substitute. He lived an innocent life and died a horrible death in your place. And Jesus finished the job. Nothing was left undone. God also tells us this righteousness becomes yours through faith. Do you believe in Jesus, that his righteousness is now yours? Jesus promises that whoever lives and believes in him will never die. (John 11:26) Either you believe he was your substitute or you don’t. There can be no in-between.
How to live with it.
Paul believed it. And when you look at the way Paul addressed the Ephesians, you can see his faith very clearly. Look at the first verses of his letter. Ephesians 1;1-4; 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Paul calls them a holy people, saints. Why could he call them that? Because they were faithful to Christ, they believed in him, they had saving faith. The Bible makes it clear that righteousness is not something you are but something you are declared to be by faith in Jesus.
Isn’t it sad that so many people live in denial because they just don’t get it? They have to invent additional time, a little dream world to live in so they can become holy, so their consciences can somehow get some rest. Isn’t it sad to see them praying for their dead relatives, living in doubt, and blindly hoping that someday they can enter heaven, but never knowing for sure?
But look at the saints, those with faith in Jesus, and the attitude they had towards death. While the Jews were stoning Stephen, he prayed; “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59) He didn’t say, “Lord Jesus, I hope to see you in 50 years from now after a few more sacrifices are made for me.”
Think about what Paul said; “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” (Phil. 1:23) Now, perhaps you’re thinking, “Well, that great for Stephen and Paul, but what about me? I’m just a normal schmuck.
Well, look at what Jesus said to the thief on the cross. When the thief asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom Jesus said; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:43) The attitude of those with faith in Christ is not to be one of doubt, but an attitude of certainty. God’s people were certain of their salvation. You and I can have the same certainty.
In Revelation chapter 20 John wrote about those who die before the 2nd coming of Christ. What did he see in this vision; “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Never does the Bible mention anyone waiting in some in-between place to get to heaven. When a person with faith in Christ dies the soul goes immediately to heaven. God wants you to be confident that the very moment your body dies your soul will go to heaven.
He also wants you to be certain that the souls of loved ones who have died with faith in Christ are in heaven right now. All who have left this world with faith in Jesus are in heaven right now. Listen to what Jesus says in John 5:24; 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
When you stop and think about it, how much comfort does the song, “Holes in the Floor of Heaven,” give you? Would it make you happy to know that Grandma is in heaven crying because she can’t be with you? Wouldn’t it be better knowing that Grandma is happy in heaven just being with Jesus?
Isaiah wrote to the Israelites in chapter 63; “though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” Abraham didn’t know the Israelites. But that wasn’t important because the Lord, their Father and Redeemer was watching over them.
Isn’t that what’s most important? Wouldn’t you rather have God talking to you about his love for you rather than dead relatives talking about the past? Wouldn’t you rather have the all-knowing God watching over you than your grandmother?
The Lord promises us that Jesus already suffered and died for us. Our salvation is complete. He promises he is with us always and that he’s always looking after us. Therefore, God will say to us on the day we die; “through faith in Christ you will be with me in paradise---today. That’s where you and I will be between now and forever. Amen.
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