No Separation from Christ

No Separation From Christ

Recently, I had the task of preparing a mid-week lesson for young children of our congregation. Our group had been discussing life experiences that bring fear. Thus far, fear had risen from not having a place amongst friends or family or in situations, from actions or reactions that aren’t always what God expects, and from things not seen. (This one really hit home for the kids as their active imaginations see a grizzly monster behind every creak and bump.)

The topic was one some of the most trusting believers choose to avoid. That subject was “Death”. It occurred to me that the discussion of death might actually do more to create and feed fear than to dissuade it, but I hedged on nevertheless.

As I referenced my study Bibles, I was surprised at the extensive detail on the subject which had previously seemed obscure. The Bible lays out a systematic and precise outline of what the elusive death entails. Cut into the pattern of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension are the promises of God. Let me start where I myself began with John 14: 1-3 and walk down the path of valley of death just as the children and I did.

John 14:1-3 (KJV) 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

These are the words of Christ Jesus as He counsels His disciples. His foretells His destination after His ascension, “I go to prepare a place for you”. He’d already revealed that Heaven is expansive, speaking of mansions. There will be plenty of room for all believers. And when it is prepared, He, the Messiah, will return so that we can be together with Him. “That where I am, there ye may be also.”

These steadfast words form a foundation poured out for a concrete understanding of death which is itself a separation from God. (1) Yet Christ has promised us that we will be where He is. We will never be separated from Him. No separation. No death.

Why no death? Because, Christ conquered death. He did this when He allowed himself to be crucified on the cold, splintered cross at Calvary. Victory was won at that dismal sight. Yet, death no longer has sting, stench, or strength. It lost its power that dark day.

Christ rose from the tomb in order that anyone who believes in him would not face death. He did it for all lost sinners. He did it for every generation. He did it for the children, the aged, for Jew and Gentile. He did it for you. He did it for me.

His resurrection was witnessed as He, in His physical body, appeared on the earth prior to The Ascension. First, He talked to a tearful, confused and frightened Mary bent before the dark, empty tomb.

John 20:14-17 (KJV) 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Later, He walked and expounded on the scriptures with the downtrodden disciples dragging their misery and their sandals along the dusty sun-baked Emmaus highway.

Luke 24:27-31 (KJV) 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Luke gives account of His appearing to the apostles and dining on fresh netted fish. Christ made sure that they recognized that He still carried His pierced, torn earthly frame. These undeserved wounds revealed that Christ had experienced a physical, factual resurrection.

Luke 24:40-43 (KJV) 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

Following the post-resurrection forty days, after five hundred in number had experienced His presence, Christ ascended into heaven.

Luke 24:51 (KJV) 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Mark 16:19 (KJV) 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

From these passages, we know that Jesus conquered death, was resurrected, and has ascended into Heaven. His station is the right hand of God. His residence is Heaven. His task is preparing a place for all of us. When will each of us enter the celestial heights? Scripture is clear concerning these events.

Along with Christ’s cross, there were two others bearing criminals, one on either side of The Master. The one thief recognized the divinity of the Son of God and somberly sought salvation. Christ’s tender words of compassion spoken that hour disclose the destination of those with faith. Their last breath will precede their first in Heaven.

Luke 23:42-43 (KJV) 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

The thief would have no final death. The thief would not be separated. The thief, soul and spirit, would be in paradise with the Lord of all creation. More scriptures confirm the mystery of this transfer from earth to paradise.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (KJV) 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 (KJV) 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Experiences of pain, suffering, and health issues may still come. The skin may wrinkle, dry, crack, sag, and age. Flesh may be buried, but the soul and the spirit are to be united with Christ in Heaven. Whether one is awake, which is life, or sleep, which is the end of the physical body, they will one day dwell with Christ. Earthly bodies go back to the dust. Upon Jesus’ return, spirit and soul, gone to Heaven, will be united with a new and transformed body.

Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV) 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

So fear not the death of mortals. Soul and spirit are immortal. As sure as the trumpet will sound, so too will the believer’s exit from earth be met with a grand entrance into Heaven. Christ has gone to prepare a place for us. He will come as prophesied.

Revelation 1:5-8 (NIV) 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Read for yourself the apostle John’s account when the angel of the Lord revealed Heaven’s majesty to him. Recall the words of Jesus, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home”.

Revelation 21:10-27 (NIV) 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.

17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using.

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

Fear Not because…

He came for all that believeth.

He went to prepare a place.

He will return for His faithful.

Isaiah 25:8 (KJV) 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NIV) 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

His faithful shall not be separated, for He has said, “that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Popular talk today is that Christ will appear soon as the earth has visible signs of measured groaning. Have no fear under this circumstance. For eternal souls who have accepted Him as their savior, at the second trumpet blast when Jesus breaks through the brilliant glistening sky, those abiding still on earth, will likewise have their immortal bodies instantly transformed and will be gathered unto Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV) 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

May comfort and assurance wrap your worries in the unfolding of these wonderful, watchful words. Commit these passages to memory. Reflect at times of fear, trouble, or doubt. Find solace when life’s door closes all too quickly, when unwanted diagnosis comes unexpected, when the casualties of world events flood into your home. Let the words of The Savior and Lord of all creation resound in your ears, bringing clarity to your vision, and filling abundantly the crevices of your broken, beating heart.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

(1) Fenis Jennings Dake, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible: Dallas: (Bookmark Publishing, 2010), p. 1030.