Ramone's Story: A Spirit of Life - Leaving a State of the Dead

When a friend died in 2002, I worked thru my grief by writing a letter to my deceased friend. I believed the Lord had saved him, so I wrote that the next thing he’d see would be Jesus’ coming. I tried to believe as I was taught, that my friend's soul was "sleeping" and knew nothing. I tried. When I wrote the words, though, they felt fake, contrived, empty. What was wrong?

The matter of the state of the dead was not finally settled for me until a few months ago when God used a study by Cherry Brandstater to help me come to peace about these things. Prior to that, even though I knew about spirit, soul and body, there were two primary stumbling blocks that kept me from seeing the simple truth about these things. First, what would the resurrection be about? Why "go to heaven" and then "come back" at the resurrection? In short, the "logic" I had worked out blinded me along with the pride of being right. The study I was reading emphasized that we are created in the image to be three-part beings, and that God made us to be whole. Death is an unnatural separation of God’s plan for us. Even though our bodies die, our soul & spirit return to God who made them, we are still short of the wholeness that God intended.

The second stumbling block was a spirit of fear standing guard over the belief of soul sleep. If one believed in “the immortality of the soul, we were told, there would be no defense against deception by spirits impersonating loved ones. Whenever I entertained the idea of the immortal soul, I suddenly felt fearful. The voices inside said, "If I believe this, I’m sure to be fooled, tricked or deceived by spirits." And that's when I knew where the fear was coming from. So I took a "big step" of faith and believed the Bible. “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Cor 5:8 (NIV) I chose to let Jesus and His Spirit (our only true safeguards) keep me safe from deception.

It occurs to me now that the SDA belief about the state of the dead has stunted many Adventists' spiritual discernment. Unfortunately, I had been taught a fear of spirits that precluded the possibility of allowing the Holy Spirit’s full reign in me. It is His presence that brings the gift of discernment of spirits. So I chose to believe in what He was showing me thru scripture and left soul-sleep behind. Now, I rejoice with joy and wonder at the eternal soul and spirit He has put in me. He has put an eternal soul and spirit in me! Oh my God! My Lord! What have You put in me?! Thank You! I HAVE eternal life! Thank You!

You will find Ramone Romero's art work throughout the posts on this site. Thank you, Ramone, for you meaningful contribution!