I had a
brief conversation with a friend about ghosts and he felt that ghosts of the
dead do hang around if there is unfinished business, or if the person died too
suddenly. Putting this in a Christian context many of us would say that
because there is always work to do in God’s kingdom, there is always unfinished
business…and some of us are even surprised at how suddenly death knocks on the
door. I’m trying to imagine Christian spirits with unfinished business who only
thought they were going to rest from
their earthly labors! For me, I need look no further than the example Jesus put
before us as He hung on the cross. “A jar of wine vinegar was
there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop
plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received
the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave
up his spirit” (John 19:29-30 NIV).
1 comment:
Gail;
-----Without our five senses we know nothing about anything that is not ourselves. With them we can only sense the physical stuff around us. So who can test the substance of an apparition? Who can know what makes it? Who can know why? But many have seen apparitions. Some say they’ve even spoke with them. Living in a world full of idolaters, atheists, and left-wing deceivers, have we learned yet not to believe everything we’re told? I presume by knowing their characters that some who have related their ghost stories to me are telling me the truth. But if that ghost has had anything to say, can it be believed?
-----It seems to me that any wandering souls of dead people would attest to either God’s fecklessness in being able to gather them all into the place of the dead, or of some care less attitude allowing them to escape and wander. Several people have told me of the souls of loved ones appearing to them with assurance that all is well, “And your Aunt Bessie says hello, too.” I don’t doubt their sincerity. But neither do I doubt the mind’s ability to construe from nothing visual imagery of what it desperately needs to rest easier.
-----Then again, neither am I willing to merely doubt they have seen an apparition. But knowing from His Word that God is neither sloppy nor feckless, I admit the possibility that apparitions of departed loved ones bearing comforting messages may have received some sort of hall pass from God. God would not grant anyone from the Rich Man’s tormenting place to go warn his loved ones, but that was a different sort of message aimed at a decision with a very importantly particular purpose. With no ability to observe these sort of things at will for drawing conclusions, all we have left to evaluate is hearsay, except for those who’ve seen apparitions, and all they have for assurance of the truth of what they’ve experienced is their willingness to believe. And that’s a dangerous leap.
-----But we are told by God’s Word that this world plays host to a rather large company of fallen angels. These we can know are realities. We know they can have affects on people. They can even get in people and cause havoc. Jesus spoke with them occasionally. His disciples commanded them in His name. And we are supposed to have the faith to command them as well, I have no doubt about a spiritual dimension intersecting in whatever ways it does with this physical one. In fact, because each of us has a spirit within the physical body we use to effect and move things, I like to say each and every one of us is an intersection between the physical and spiritual dimensions. And that has some interesting implications.
-----At the untied end of the whole matter, though, is the fact that God is not careless with the spiritual dimension, nor is He in poor control of it. What ever these apparitions are, they are what they are. And maybe the most informative thing God’s Word might say about ghosts is,
“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother’s breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.” (Ps 131:1-2)
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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