Ghosts

Jesus…stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them…"Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:37-39).

At this time of the year, ghost stories are very popular. There is a fascination with speaking to the dead.  Some visit gravesides and talk to departed loved ones.  Others consult psychics, hoping for a message from the beyond. 

There are several reasons why stories of ghosts fascinate us.  Many of our dear ones were taken by death before we were ready to say goodbye.  It hurts to be left alone; there is comfort in thinking that the person you buried can still hear you when you come to the cemetery for a visit.  You might have parted company on bad terms; before you could make amends, the person you were fighting with was taken away.  Many in this situation crave the opportunity to speak words that should have been said before time ran out.  Tales of ghosts who lingered in this world until some task was finished can be reassuring.  We all fear dying before our goals are accomplished.

You need to understand that ghost stories are just that—stories.  When people die, their spirits go immediately to either heaven or hell.  When Jesus was crucified, He told the man dying next to Him today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).  Nowhere in the Bible is there evidence of a human soul lingering on earth after death.  Our world is visited by spirits of good and evil—angels from God and demons from Satan.  No angel would pass himself off as a departed loved one, but demons enjoy misleading us.  This is why God warns everyone away from the dark arts—they are used by the devil to speak lies to us.

When Jesus is your friend, you don’t need to concern yourself with ghosts.  It’s hard to say goodbye to someone precious, but if that person trusted in the Son of God, you will be reunited in paradise!  If an untimely death has left you with regrets over how the two of you parted, Christ offers to forgive you and take away your guilt.  If you are worried that death will stop you from getting everything done that needs doing, you can be sure that the Lord of Life will take care of those you’re leaving behind.  Ghost stories are just that—stories.  But the Son of God is real, and He died for you.