A great friend of
mine and another general of God passed away today. He was much too young to be
gone but now He’s in the safe Arms of Jesus. Death is the highest promotion for
a Christian but it’s never easy on the family and friends left behind.
What should be our
attitude when a loved one passes away? What happens to them? How can we
peacefully transition into life without our loved one? Does God’s Word provide
any light on these matters? Today we’ll discuss a few things about death and
beyond. This is not comfortable but it’s good for us to stop, think and face the
reality of life.
Of course none of
us are mortal. For centuries human beings have tried to hold on to their loved
ones or helped them on to heaven with traditions. According to the Bible, we’re
born once and die once. God is a loving God and He doesn’t send anyone to hell
which was prepared for the devil and demon forces. Jesus gave us clear teaching
that “those who believe in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.” When
we do not accept God’s free gift of Salvation offered to us through the Cross
of Jesus Christ, we send ourselves to eternal damnation. This is not God’s
plan for us and neither should it be ours.
When a Christian dies, his/her spirit goes
to heaven immediately. And there is a great celebration over a death of a saint
of God. That’s what my
friend is experiencing right now. There’s no pain, crying, sighing or dying in
heaven. It’s an eternal bliss in the presence of God. Our job in heaven is to worship
Him forever. This is what the Bible teaches about life after death.
When someone has
lost someone dear in their lives, it is important
to grieve with them. Hasty words of
comfort can shorten their grieving process. We should mainly offer our
condolences and be ears for them to process their grief. We’ve to be careful not to offer too many advice or hurrying them along
in their grieving process. One of the worst things we can do is to make
them feel like it’s not a big deal since their loved one is in heaven. Instead,
we should try to empathize with them.
Another way we can show our support is
to offer practical help with food, childcare, transportation, hospitality etc. Losing a loved
one is the most stressful thing in the world. Our body, mind, spirit, soul and
emotions are all worked up in knots. We can alleviate people’s pain by being
understanding and kind. Keeping our voice down, spending time with them and
helping with practical chores are great comforts for the grieving family. This
is the time to be extra sensitive and not make jokes or hurtful remarks. Scripture
says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and
mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15 NIV).
If you have a
loved one who has lived a full life, make sure to make as much preparation as
possible ahead of time. Practical things such as making a will, funeral
arrangement, paying off debt, life-insurance in place, dividing wealth and
estate to the next generation are all sensible planning. This will reduce
stress for those who are left behind. If
you haven’t put some of these things in place for yourself and your family yet,
now is a good time to put paper work in place. You don’t have to fear about
the future but “A prudent person
foresees danger and takes precautions” (Proverbs 22:3).
Friend, life and
death is a matter of seconds. If you have not invited Jesus into your heart the
most important preparation you can make is to ask Him to be your Lord and
Savior. Will you say this prayer with me? “Heavenly
Father, I’m a sinner. I need a Savior. I believe Jesus came, lived a sinless life
and died for my sins. He rose again from the dead and went to be in Heaven. I
believe He is coming back to take us home. I repent from my sin. I confess Jesus
Christ is Lord. Now I’m born again. Give me power to live a righteous life by
filling me with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” Friend, if
you sincerely prayed this prayer and meant it from your heart, you are saved.
Now go and tell someone what you just did. Be in church this weekend and tell
someone that you just got saved. We’re praying for you.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he
die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25 ESV).
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