So… another one of our family is home with the Lord. Our dear friend Chuck Kolb. It has been both a wonderful year and a difficult year for our church family. You know the Bible does not give a large number of details concerning what happens right after we die. It’s safe to say that we will enter a reality that is far beyond anything we could imagine. Biblically, there are at least 4 things that we should expect at the moment of death.
First, believers will be taken into the presence of Christ in heaven. Here are two passages that speak to this: "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake." - Philippians 1:23-24
"Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--for we walk by faith, not by sight--we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
Second, heaven is a place of unbelievable glory, and being with Christ in heaven will be a whole lot better than what we have here. Paul says that departing this life to be with Christ "is much better" and also notice that being in heaven with the Lord is referred to as being "at home." One of the things that will make heaven so great is that we will finally feel that we are in our true home.
Third, at the moment of death believers will be made perfect and cleansed from all sin. Heaven is fully pure - free from all sin. The Bible says that God’s purpose is to make us completely like Christ (Romans 8:29) and, at the return of Christ, to present us to Himself without spot or wrinkle or sin (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:27).
Fourth, those who did not trust Christ in this life will be separated from God and enter a reality completely devoid of His grace and blessing. Scripture speaks often of the painful reality that awaits those who do not place their faith in Christ to be rescued from sin (Matthew 13:30; 25:41; Luke 16: 22-26; John 3:36; Romans 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:29).
So - death is not the end of our existence. Death is scary and fearful – even for believers. However, we can take courage in the confidence that we have a God who time after time says to His people, "Do not be afraid" . God wants His people to be comforted in the face of death: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you."  - Isaiah 43:1-2
That’s our faith – believe it…