When a Believer Dies (1)
Sunday, 26 May 2013 01:14
Our culture makes death a subject to avoid or to speak of with gloom. When the subject comes up, even Christians try to dodge the bullet by escaping into vague, irrelevant-sounding metaphors. But God's Word makes death clear and unthreatening for those who trust in Christ. 'Dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.' God's Word is direct, concrete, and encouraging on this subject. 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His [godly ones].' (Psalm 116:15 NKJV) From our heavenly Father's perspective, death just opens the door for Him to enjoy perfect, eternal, delightful fellowship with each of His redeemed children. 'I heard a voice from Heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them."' (Revelation 14:13 NIV) The Bible assures every believer that their death is not a tragedy but a triumphal entry into Heaven. The Amplified Bible puts it: 'Blessed (happy, to be envied).' God instructed John, 'Write this.' Why? Because God understands that when we lose a loved one we tend to forget His perspective and adopt an emotion-driven perspective. Rejoice, believer, '...Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.' (Romans 14:8 NIV) And the Lord takes good care of what belongs to Him!
SoulFood: Gal 5:23, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 42:1-4, Ps 18:31-35
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2012
