Keeping our Identity in Eternity

 Do we keep our soul in heaven?  Is there any evidence of a soul on earth?  

Descartes and others trying to identify the organ of the body that the soul resides in.  In the ancient world they talked about "Loving you from the kidneys"  Or "Heart and soul."  Some pointed to the pituitary gland.  Others the hypothalmus.  Some leading neurologists have pointed to the mind beyond the brain.  

Some say evidence of the soul is found in self-awareness or conscience or even mindfulness.  I like to think I know I am the same person I was when I was a baby- though my body has changed.  We gain and lose millions of cells each day- but there is a central part of us that keeps going.  Perhaps the part that keeps going is our soul?  

Scripture points to the idea that we are identified as persons in heaven.  In some religions (pantheism and even some panentheism), you become a part of the cosmic soul or "one with the universe" after you die.  In such a belief system you lose your identity- which is the point for some- to become "one".  Some of these systems of belief say that your identity is an illusion (maya).  

But there are some evidences of soul- as identity continuation given in the scriptures.  In the Bible there is little if any thought of just merging into one being with God.  God is "holy other" and is to be worshiped into eternity- not merged into in eternity.  Yet, in heaven we are brought closer- but separately into the presence of God.  In heaven our sins do not separate us from God's pleasure and our sinful desires are stopped (in part because our bodily pleasures are stopped). 

In the Old Testament (briefly)- Samuel was called back from the dead to Saul (1 Samuel 28).  Saul identified Samuel (28:14,15).  David's comments on his  child's death was "I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  He did not say I will join him in his place or his soul, but "I" and "Him".  The whole concept of soul "nephesh" is an identity- that God breathes into us (Genesis 2:7).  The great words of Job say, "I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth and after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes--I and not another." (19:25,26).  

There are many passages in the New Testament about the individual human soul living forever.  
The Transfiguration has Moses and Elijah as identifiable individuals coming down to meet with Jesus.  
In Luke 16:19-31 (the parable of the poor-Lazarus and rich man-Dives) it speaks of the poor man going to "Abraham's side" (22).  The rich man was identifiable in hell (32) and looked up and identified Lazarus  and Abraham (23).  He had a conversation with Abraham.  Certainly this implies identity in heaven.  In Revelation the souls of the martyrs are identifiable and Jesus (the Lamb who was slain) was also identifiable.  But the bigger evidence is the resurrection of the body that we say we believe in the Apostles Creed.  The phrase, "I believe in the resurrection of the body" means the ongoing personality or identity of the soul.  Jesus rose from the dead and was identifiable.  When he died, individuals rose from the dead (also think Lazarus, Jairus' daughter, Widow of Nain's son- all of whom kept their identity).  

You don't have to believe me.  But if you want to believe the scriptures- especially the New Testament, then there is clear evidence there of seeing and being with individuals in heaven.  

In addition, Near Death Experiences also confirm seeing people as individuals in heaven.  These experiences are becoming more and more identifiable with the spread of information on the internet and as people come out about their experience.   Lee Stroble's book and movie "The Case for Heaven" about it is a nice summary.  Most of the thousands of accounts have people seeing individuals on the other side.  This is not just a wishful "now they are united again" kind of thing- though that wish is not in itself necessarily wrong.  

Billy Graham talked about his mother's death when she said she saw dead relatives on the other side.  When my mother died in 2001, she spoke to her sister who had died in the 1970s, saying, "I'm coming as soon as I can" (over and over).  Hospice used to talk about one of the stages of being near death is talking to people on the other side more and more.  Hopefully we can get comfort in the fact that we go on- and what we do is valuable- and who we are is valuable for eternity.  The Bible seems to indicate two things go on forever from this earthly life- the Word of God and human souls.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to value my soul- who I am- because you value me.  Help me to have hope into eternity.