Faith is believing in the miraculous and wonderous things God did and the spiritual and demonic stories that we read in the Bible. All these stories were supernatural events that goes beyond scientific explanation and the laws of nature.
God’s supernatural stories are to help us to believe what is impossible is possible with God. It also helps us to understand the supernatural spiritual realm that exist around us.
The History or Discovery channel have attempted to explain away the supernatural things God did by disproving it with a natural event or scientifically.
God does not ask us to prove to others that he exists because he already has done that by the evidence found in his creation which Paul said in Romans and because of the evidence found in creation no one will have any excuse that God does exist.
Reading the gospel Jesus told stories of what he has seen to teach us what we must believe and learn from.
One story was about the shrewd manager and what he did to gain friends and the woman who constantly pestered the judge for justice.
Jesus also told a story Luke to help us understand about where the spirit goes when body dies and what the spirit can do.
Luke 16: 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named them.' Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 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 hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross from over there to us. 27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'. 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to 30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
This is a true story that only Jesus could have witnessed and share to teach us what happens to people’s spirit when they pass away.
Jesus tells us that the rich man did not care about Lazarus’ health and hungry condition as he begged the rich man for the craps of food that fell off his table. The rich man completely ignored Lazarus.
Then Jesus teaches what happens to the spirit of them both when they died. Lazarus’ spirit was carried by angels to Abraham’s side which was a place of comfort and the rich man’s spirit went to hell a place of agony. These 2 places were completely separated from each other where no one could go even if they wanted to. We learn that people’s spirit are consciences and aware of its surrounding and has feelings after it leaves the body. They can communicate and see each other.
This place of comfort where Lazarus and Abraham’s spirits were was not in heaven but a waiting place under the ground because Jesus had not died for sins of the world which would then allow believers to go to heaven. We know this was not heaven because Samuel’s spirit came up from the ground when he spoke to Saul.
Jesus teaches that there are only two options where a person’s spirit can go determined by God by the choices that person’s makes. That is why we are forever thankful to our Lord Jesus for saving us by his Father’s grace that all who believes in him will be with him forever in heaven.
Jesus wants us to have clear understanding what happens to people’s spirit when they die and that spirits have feelings, comfort and agony, they can see and speak in the spiritual realm and the earthly like Samuel’s spirit which God allowed. Remember the chasm no spirit could cross. This knowledge is to give you the confidence of knowing what happens in the spiritual realm and will help you explain to someone if they ask you what the Bible teaches when someone dies.
Jesus ends his story by teaching that faith in God does not come from seeking things that are supernatural like someone coming back from dead or seeking anything that is supernatural. Faith that pleases God is one that comes from knowing and believing in his words which Paul said in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the word about Christ.
So, seek all truths from God’s word and apply them to help you know the heart and mind of God and only do his will.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn.