The Friendly Old Man And The Truth About Ghosts

My father once relayed a story that is frightening for its simplicity. Very simply, he stated that his father was once traveling along in a wagon (read: before everyone owned automobiles) late one evening. When he passed by the home of a certain gentleman (I have forgotten his name; he was a farmer by trade), the old fellow was sitting, as was his custom, in his rocking chair on the front porch. As usual, my grandfather waved to the man. He waved back. Later on that night, after returning home, grandpa realized (or perhaps heard from someone else) that the old farmer had died two weeks earlier!

When I was a child, this little tale sent chills up and down my spine. It is still somewhat chilling today. What is the truth of such stories? What is the simple truth about the reappearance of humans, especially loved ones, after they have passed on into eternity? Do ghosts exist?

This story is not a treatise on the existence of ghosts or what may or may not constitute the identity of a ghost. That being said, here is a word for those who contemplate the idea of loved ones returning as spirits: if the Bible is true, as most good Southern people will profess, then loved ones do not return as ghosts. This statement could provide the basis for a lengthy theological argument, but basically the Scriptures set forth the fact that the disembodied soul goes to one of two places. Consider the following evidence:

In context, the author (Solomon) is speaking about death. He states that the dust (the physical body which was made of the dust of the ground) will return to the earth as it was. For us, this means that the body will be buried and go through the process of decay. It will eventually become part of the very earth from which it was created.

Set against this fate is the destiny of the spirit. The spirit shall return unto God who gave it. This sets forth the fact that God gave spirits to men and they are ultimately under His power. The spirit of a deceased person returns to God upon being freed from the body. It does not necessarily remain with God, but it is under His authority at the point of death.

Hebrews 9:27 explains what happens to us after this, meaning after we die. An immediate judgment follows the occurrence of physical death. This is not "the last judgment" of the end times. It is not the judgment which comes at resurrection of the just or that which comes with the resurrection of damnation. It is not even a judgment that requires a soul to appear before God. It is simply a judgment that takes place immediately after death, whereupon those who have trusted Christ are taken into heaven or paradise, while those who have rejected Christ are consigned to hell. In reality, it could even be said that God isn't really the judge in the matter: each person decides for himself during his lifetime whether he wants to spend eternity in heaven or hell.

But where, one may ask, does the Bible specifically describe an account of a soul being judged immediately after death? To my knowledge, there is no detailed description, but the teaching is such that the Bible considers it to be understood. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 5:8, the Apostle Paul states that he and other Christian workers are "willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." It is understood that these Christians would be judged and enter into the Lord's presence.

The most compelling evidence is found in Luke Chapter 16, in a firsthand account of what happens to a soul after death. The accuracy of the account cannot be questioned, as it comes directly from Jesus Himself. In this account, Jesus told the tale of two men of very different backgrounds. One man is called simply, "the rich man." The other man, Lazarus, was a beggar who lay daily outside the rich man's gate waiting on table scraps from the rich man's table. In the end, both of these men died. It is said of Lazarus, "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom" (Luke 16:22). In contrast, of the rich man it is said, "the rich man also died, and was buried."

Beginning at Luke 16:23, the fate of the rich man after death is elaborated upon:

Note what is left unsaid, but implied. Namely, that both men were judged at the point of death. Clearly, some process was used to determine the destiny of each man. That process is whether or not one has had faith in Christ during his lifetime. Remember that it is not necessary for a soul to formally appear in God's presence for this judgment to take place. Our modern idea of a "right" to appear before a judge is inconsistent with Bible doctrine concerning God's authority. Man does not have "rights" where God is concerned. God knows in advance who has trusted Christ and who has refused, and so the judgment is carried out immediately without ever having to appear before the Judge.

In Luke 16, the saved person was taken to Abraham's bosom (the Jewish term for "paradise" or what we call heaven) by an escort of at least two angels. On the other hand, the rich man died and was buried. This indicates a funeral of some dignity whereas the beggar had none, but in the next verse the scene changes. There was no more dignity. The rich man died. His body was buried. When he opened his eyes again, he was in hell. He had been judged guilty and entered into hell. Again, there is no need to appear before a Judge who is all-knowing. In fact, the soul of a lost person probably cannot appear before a Holy God. Nor could God receive such a one into His presence. Again, in the Bible it is assumed that the readers understand this.

"No, no," someone might object. "I know for a fact that people come back because I saw...[insert name here]." Personally, I do not deny the fact that people believe they have seen loved ones return as spirits or ghosts. In fact, I'm willing to accept many such stories as face value. However, my position is that even though one may see something that appears to be a loved one, it is not. It is a well known fact that demonic forces operate under the guise of humans who have passed away. It is an ideal way to deceive people. Moreover, it may be possible that certain created beings exist that defy our understanding (See Colossians 1:16). It is not impossible that some of these creatures could be the "ghosts" that people have long reported. It could be even be possible that they, for whatever the reason, masquerade as the "ghosts of loves ones."

Again, I am only stating my opinion as to what "might be." The truth and accuracy of the Scripture, however, cannot be questioned. Our loved ones do not return from the grave. They are in one of two places, even now.

I might add that all of us are going to go to one of those two places as well. If you're alive to read these words, you should seriously consider your standing in God's sight. Have you ever understood that God sees you as a sinner with nothing good about you and no redeeming qualities? Have you ever seen yourself that way? In this condition, a person is cut off from God. God loves him, but God is unable to accept him in that sinful condition. His justice requires that someone pay for the sin.

The "good news" (no cliche intended) is that someone has paid for the sin that separates you from God. A little over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, and God accepted His death as payment for your sins! This is part of what is called the Gospel message. The Gospel is "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:1-4). If you will first understand that you are a lost sinner in God's sight, repent, and believe the Gospel message in your heart, God will save you. Here's what you have to do:

Accept the fact that you are a sinner. Be sorry that you've sinned and hurt God. Decide now to change your mind about living a life of sin. Determine instead to live the life that God wants you to lead. To be sorry and to change the mind like this is repentance. The Bible calls on all people to repent and believe the Gospel.

If you will repent and believe the Gospel in your heart, you can pray to God right now and confess to Him that yes, you are a sinner, but you're asking Him to forgive you and save you because Jesus paid for your sins on the cross.

When a sinner does this, God rewards bestows upon him salvation, immediately. Have you ever done it? If not, you must do it before you too open your eyes "in hell."

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