“Travels.” The Soul-Spirit makes trips in spiritual dimensions after the death of the physical body that has lost its animal life. With its mind-memory intact, it travels from material realms to spiritual ones.

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Centuries before Jesus Christ, the psalmist wrote: “The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10. “…fly away.” We travel, flying! After the death of the body!

The first trip is initiated the year, day, hour and second when the physical body dies.

“…the putting off of my physical body will be soon,” writes the apostle Peter, who also uses the synonymous phrase: “…after my departure.” 2 Peter 1:14-15. Departure, then, in spiritual flight, abandoning the earthly house, that no longer serves as an abode, for destinies beyond material frontiers. That is exactly what the Soul-Spirit does when the body of flesh and bones demises.

The apostle Paul said: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” than remaining on the earth. Philippians 1.23. Depart, then, and travel to destinies “far better” than this planet Earth. Specifically, to that blessed place where one can “be with Christ.” How marvelous, indeed! Astonishingly glorious!

Thus, both apostles were clear about the Soul-Spirit’s surviving the death of the physical body. It departs from it, going on a trip, flying away to spiritual spheres. Do we view this event with equal clarity?

The Soul-Spirit has no material weight.

Its net SPIRITUAL weight, at any given instant during its traversing of material dominions, is determined by its positive or negative attributes and actions.

“Gravitas” imbues the Soul-Spirit with spiritual weight. This word denotes “high seriousness”. “Among the Romans, gravitas was thought to be essential to the character and functions of any adult (male) in authority.” Miriam-Webster Dictionary

How about the Souls-Spirits of today? How much gravitas do they commonly have? How much do they want to have? Beloved reader, how much WEIGHT does your Soul-Spirit have?

Due to a lack of moral values, knowledge of eternal truths and good spiritual attributes, the light, the almost weightless Soul can be blown away by just about any wind of evil, deceit or religious-philosophical error! And, even the Soul that has some weight, but not much, can be suddenly jerked up and wafted away toward deeper darkness and destruction by strong gusts of inordinate passions or momentary intensification of peer pressure.

Justness, moral responsibility, mental maturity, self-control, emotional equilibrium, noble conduct, and respect, plus other such attributes and norms, add great weight to the Soul-Spirit.

The Soul-Spirit acquires “an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure”  by accumulating treasures, or deposits, in Heaven through the execution of good works on the earth. 2 Corinthians 4:17

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;  but store up for yourselves TREASURES in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Paul affirms: “…I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.” 2 Timothy 1:12

The SAVED Soul-Spirit departs silently from the physical body. Although the physical body may cry and moan with pain during the time of its mortal agony.

Why should the pure Soul-Spirit cry out in anguish and
desperation? Christ has freed it from the “fear of death,”
destroying “the one who has the power of death, that is,
the devil.” Hebrews 2:14-15. It is about to leave for a
“much better” world than the corporal-earthly one, and,
knows it! It would then feel very much relieved and joyous
upon taking leave of the physical body, with its incessant
strivings to preserve its animal life and daily stress of
material existence, to fly to a truly marvelous place free of such conditions.

Do you fear Death? Have you been in his presence when he resolutely approached the ungodly, immoral, unbelieving scoffers, coldly irreligious? While terror lays hold of some, others curse him, and still others numbly succumb, like irrational animals, willingly ignorant of what awaits them on the other side. What will your reaction be?

For the travels of the purified Soul, the cargo would be zero, for its extremely valuable spiritual shipments acquired on earth by means of abundant works and activities carried out there in the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Colossians 3:17), always with unselfish motives, were sent on ahead previously to the secure storehouse in Heaven! So it is that such a soul travels light, unencumbered, carefree, happy.

Not so the impure Soul. It has traveled with heavy, ugly boxes of evil deeds and unpardoned sins. Not now able to discard them, it also drags along, with shame, sobbing and chilling premonitions of what lies ahead, a very large sack full of guilt and remorse.

And you, are you loading down your spirit with much worldly baggage of no true value? You get rid of it, freeing yourself from the fear of death, when you repent, confess faith in Christ as the Son of God and are baptized “for the forgiveness of sin.” Acts 2:36-47

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…  for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30