GodReflection: Is It Well with My Soul?

Twice I’ve been at the bedside to witness a soul take flight. The first time was my twenty-one-year-old son and the second time was my eighty-eight-year-old dad. Both times I watched the body fight against the departure and saw how the soul struggles to be set free.

At an exact nanosecond it happens—the soul takes flight and the body becomes lifeless—left fit for only a grave. But where did the soul go?

My concern in this post is what happens to the soul of the one who departed earth as a disciple of Jesus?

To be clear I do not question the ultimate destiny of my soul housed in an eternal body living on the new earth under a new heaven. However, that will only take place after Jesus’ return to escort his body of saints to the Throne Room of God. But that is then. What about now? To where does my soul fly when it leaves my body?

At the moment of death what happens to me—my heart and mind—who the Holy has been transforming throughout my earth walk?

Here is where I think I am on this one.

When I combine the totality of Scripture added to what I’ve experienced as God’s care I reach a couple of conclusions.

First, I’ve witnessed enough of God’s hand through the dark valleys as well as the occasional mountaintops to be convinced He is faithful. In my heart of hearts—even as my legs sometimes wobble with doubt—I know I can trust Him.

Second, I suspect the story and information God shares through the Bible is elementary and written in the language of “human speak.” Creator God knows my gnat size human brain would explode if the Almighty was shown to me in the full Glory of His Holy reality.

When the apostle Paul was carried by Jesus for a visit to Paradise he shared that he saw, inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (2 Corinthians 12:4). For all of the above reasons the clues of my soul’s flight from my body are somewhat limited.

However, I do find signs of my soul’s destination as it departs after my last earthly breath.

In Scripture I read of Enoch, Moses and Elijah who seem to have bodies in their post death reality (Genesis 5:24, Luke 9: 28-36, Hebrews 11:5). From Jesus’ story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16), and the martyrs (Revelation 6:9-11) there is possibly an awareness of the situation on earth. John even noted the martyrs apparently had clothing as each of them was given a white robe.

Jesus told a man on an adjacent cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Sounds to me like I will be conscious and in the presence of Jesus once I make the death journey.

Likewise, Paul affirms, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23).

Rather sketchy don’t you think?

So, I find myself back at my little five letter English word that I seem to encounter on each step of my faith walk—trust. I suspect trust is a gift of the Spirit that is available upon request. I repeat. As a Jesus follower I’ve seen enough of God’s faithfulness to know I can trust Him.

I guess my bottom line conclusion on the flight of my soul is the fact that I will be in the presence of the Holy is all I need to know for now. However, after my soul makes the journey I am confident I will awaken with a delight I’ve never known to those inexpressible things, things that as of yet are not permitted to tell.

What do you think? Shouldn’t we look with great anticipation to the time of our soul flight?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells

A GodReflection: Soul Flight

Gary@Godreflection.org 

www.GodReflection.org

www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com