Ghosts? Are they real? What are they? What do we see? What is it? Is it easier to believe in disembodied souls of departed humans and animals than it is to believe in THE RISEN LORD?
I do believe that people see things that cannot be explained by current socio-scientific knowledge, but can be explained quite easily through Scripture. People call them ghosts, specters and other things.
Scripture tells us that when we die, our soul either goes to be with The LORD, or it goes to Hell. Our body lies in the grave without our soul until it is resurrected and united with the soul for the final Judgment. That is pretty simple. I am sure that there are Bible scholars out there who can debate the nuances of my assumptions, but I will leave that for those more educated. I like to keep it simple.
What those who believe in ghosts would have us believe is that the soul is confused and does not want to leave the earthly plain and wanders for eternity not wanting to admit death has taken them. I have a problem with that. That assumption is saying that after death, we have some kind of control over our eternal destiny.
There are tales of haunting and possessions of living humans by departed humans. Truth or fabrication? I do believe that living human beings can be possessed. I do believe that there are experiences that cannot be explained within our current understanding if we disavow the spiritual aspect.
What if you substitute demons for the human spirit? That is when it makes sense to me. The devil works through his minions, his demons. What are demons? Are they not just the fallen angels, the third that fell from Grace because they followed Lucifer? What of the "souls" of the Nephilim - the offspring of the angels who mated with human women (which is one of the abominations that brought on the flood of Noah)?
If demons are performing the haunting of houses, etc and demons are doing the possessing, what of the "good" spirits? Well, for one thing, the "good" spirits would not be possessing humans. External guiding - yes; possessing - no. These so-called "good" spirits would be Angels sent by GOD. Would they come as mindless children, playing games in attics, rolling balls in hallways, giggling, laughing, and on and on? I hardly think so. Angels are sent with messages and, from what Scripture says, are intentional and understood by the recipient as coming from GOD. Look at Daniel's answer to his prayer and Mary being informed of her imminent pregnancy.
There is evidence that the ability to speak with the dead is there, but GOD has forbidden us to do so. When Saul went to the Witch of Endor and spoke with Samuel, it was not told as a fictional story, but as a truth. Notice, though, that he was able to speak with Samuel who was one of THE LORD's prophets and Saul was told that he and his sons would be with him (Samuel) tomorrow. Nothing good came of that exchange between the dead and the living. I do not recall any other time it was recorded that one called upon the dead. When Jesus called Lazarus from the dead, HE brought him back to life. There was no interchange of conversation nor ideas. At the time of the Transfiguration when HE conversed with Moses and Elias, it appears that the conversation was not all inclusive. They (Moses and Elias) spoke only with THE MESSIAH and with no one else.
No where in Scripture have I found an instance of possession by a "good" spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells by invitation and that invitation is through our acceptance of Salvation through THE MESSIAH's finished work on the Cross of Calvary with the shedding of HIS blood and HIS Resurrection. The Holy Spirit guides us. HE does not force us to do anything. We can turn away and grieve the Spirit. We can act on our own.
Possession forces one to do the bidding of the demon. Possession is possibly invitation by default. One denies THE LORD giving demons permission to invade the unprotected soul. There are several accounts in Scripture of possession by one or more (legions of) demons. They did no good to the one possessed. They did everything evil but take the life of the one possessed.
If you take nothing from these words then I have failed to even give you something to think about. As television and movies promote the existence of supernatural phenomena, I would hope that you would take the time to think about what they are saying and compare it to Scripture. Although they may be on to something, I believe they are erring in prompting people to embrace these experiences. When you ask demons in, they will enter with a vengeance. They will deceive and misdirect and seemingly lull one into a false sense of security.
If you want to err, err on the side of caution. Do not participate in seances, "life" readings, fortune telling of any sort nor the reading of horoscopes. It is all the Devil's handiwork. Beware of anything that tells you talking to the dead is a good thing. You cannot fix the past. Look to the future. Ask THE LORD for guidance.
Shalom. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
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