Five Minutes After You Die: Present in Paradise

by David Chadwick

Five minutes after you die, there are two very different realities that will take place depending on whether or not you are a believer in Jesus or an unbeliever. For believers, you will find yourself immediately present in paradise.

As mentioned previously, just like for unbelievers, there will be immediate awareness and consciousness. Said another way, we will be fully aware! Our souls live forever, either in heaven or hell. For believers, death holds no power.

This is clearly taught in 2 Corinthians 5:8, which says, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Said differently, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. As sons and daughters of God, this world is not our home. It’s a temporary stop on our journey home. These bodies of ours are simple tents in which we reside while serving as ambassadors of a different kingdom.

In Luke 23:43, Jesus looked at the thief on the cross and said to him, “TODAY you will be with me in paradise.” The moment the thief died, Jesus promised that he’d be with him forever simply because he believed in Jesus. I can’t wait to reach heaven one day and talk with this unnamed thief to hear his entire story!

But unlike unbelievers, our souls will never face the judgment seat of Jesus! Why? Because the moment we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were judged by the Father as “not guilty” because we received the gift of eternal salvation from Jesus.

Today’s reality should allow every follower of Jesus to walk in perfect peace. Soon and very soon will come a day when we die. And we will be clothed in righteousness and perfect in paradise! Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love demonstrated to us through Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Our souls are secure. And no matter what may happen to us, we can confidently say, “It is well with my soul!”