In this daily Bible reading Jesus said to a person who was listening to Jesus, “Follow Me.’ The person replied, “Permit me first to go bury my father.” Jesus then said, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you go and proclaim everywhere the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ words indicated that physical death does not totally define death. There is another kind of death: Spiritual death. One can be physically alive but spiritually dead.
What is ‘spiritual death?’ The Bible ‘defines spiritual’ death as separation from God who created us. While we are alive, separation from God produces a miserable life.
The Bible says that when we believe in Jesus Christ we receive God’s Holy Spirit. The Bible lists the benefits of having God’s Holy Spirit. These benefits include ‘Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.’ Having these characteristics provides for a rich life filled with Love and Joy.
Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ do not have or enjoy the benefits of God’s Holy Spirit. Non-believers are miserable. They may adapt to their miserable lives, but they will never know what they are missing.
Being spiritually dead while physically alive produces misery. However, being spiritually dead when physically dead is worse. The Bible says that this condition will result in an eternity of pain and misery to which the person can never adapt.
The Bible calls this place of misery Hell. Additionally, the Bible characterizes being in Hell like being in a ‘lake of fire.’ Those who exist in this ‘lake of fire’ will feel the pain of the heat for all of eternity. There will be no relief.
Knowing this fact should provide sufficient motivation for a person to turn from a life of sin to a life of living rightly before God. That is obviously the best choice.
