Physical death is
the one common event shared by all who live on earth. Death comes
to all mankind. There is no exception. Death may come after
a painful prolonged sickness or quickly after an accident or heart
failure or naturally at the end of a long life. Wealth, power,
position, education nor any power within mankind’s purview can prevent
death. No chemical medicine, no vaccine, no natural supplement, no
surgical procedure nor any device or invention of man can prevent death
from happening. When the breath of life goes out of us then our
life on earth ends. Physical death is the end result of Adam’s
race. It is so declared in God’s word. “And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
Hebrews 9:27 UKJV.
Great heartache comes from the death of family members and others whom
we love. To grieve is normal because we recognize that a loving
relationship which existed is now ended. Those times of intimacy
we enjoyed have ended. No longer can we embrace our loved one with
whom we once shared our earthly journey. No more will we sit
together around the table and enjoy eating together during Thanksgiving
and Christmas. No longer will we bask in the warmth of the sun as
we walk together savoring the beauty of God’s creation or the joy of
building a snowman together. All the plans made together are now
past. Memories of our life together remain in our heart but the
physical reality has ended. These thoughts should inspire us to
love, laugh and worship together while we share this earthly journey.
The writer of Hebrews states that after death there is judgment.
There is life after death for those who have received Jesus Christ but
those who do not belong to Christ will face an eternity of spiritual
death and punishment. “And I saw a great white throne, and him
that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;
and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were
judged every man according to their works. And death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 UKJV
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that all of you sorrow not, even as others which
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 UKJV
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 UKJV. Our hope in Christ is
eternal and extends beyond death. We shall never die. We
will be given new bodies that are like the glorious body of
Christ. The death of God’s saints is not the end but a transition
to another eternal world. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that
physical death is not the end for those who “sleep in Jesus”.
Death changes the sphere of existence in which we live. This
change is not a termination of existence but an alteration for those in
Christ. Remember Jesus’ words to Martha regarding the death of her
brother Lazarus, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and
the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he
live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.
Believe you this?” John 11:25 – 26 UKJV. Jesus IS “the
resurrection and the life” All who believe in Jesus
shall “never die”. To receive Jesus is to believe his
words. To believe in Jesus is have him overcome death in us as he
overcame his own death.
“As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my
life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not
of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;
and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore does my
Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it
again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:15-18
UKJV.
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible
must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave,
where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians
15:51-57 UKJV
The verses above refer only to the dead in Christ because those not in
Christ will not be raised incorruptible and immortal. Some believe
in a general resurrection in which all the dead will be raised from the
grave at the same time. This context does not contain information
about the wicked dead. The resurrection of the wicked dead will
occur one thousand years after the first resurrection which is the
resurrection of those who belong to Christ. “But the rest of
the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This
is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:5 UKJV Those in
Christ and those in the world share nothing spiritually in common while
living on earth. This lack of common experience is also evident in
the raising of the dead. “For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 UKJV. Those in Christ will be raised from the
dead one thousand years before the wicked dead.
The spirit of the Christian lives and goes to be with Jesus after the
death of the body. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died,
and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:” Luke 16:22
UKJV. Angels attend those who belong to Christ at their
death. Some have been privileged a glimpse into the unseen world
which surrounds us. “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray
you, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of
the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of
horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." 2 Kings
6:17 UKJV. In Matthew 17:1-6 it is recorded that Peter, James and
John were allowed to see Moses and Elijah and Christ transfigured in
this other world. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul gives another instance
of one who was allowed into this unseen world. Scripture tells us
that some may have experienced the unseen world without realizing it.
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly
entertained angels." Hebrews 13:2 NKJV. We cannot see all
that exists about us but God has allowed exceptions. Be careful to
not judge another believer's testimony. All things are to judged
by God's word not our own theology.
One of my most precious memories is my dear mother in law, a saint of
God, telling me about the death of her only son who lived only a few
hours. She related that as she held her child she was allowed to
see only for a moment into that unseen world which surrounds us.
As her precious baby was dying she saw angels come and take the child
and carry him away. Angels carried the beggar to Abraham’s bosom
and they carried my dear mother in law’s only male child away to
safety. Some are permitted to briefly see into this world.
Seeing the angels take her baby gave her comfort and she was then able
to accept his death. Our heavenly Father is overflowing with
compassion and he will never leave us alone. Our Father continues
to bestow grace upon us in Christ. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit,
has come to dwell within us.
The death of those in Christ is attended by the angels of God.
God’s word declares, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death
of his saints.” Psalms 116:15 UKJV. The saints of God are
not left unprotected and alone when death comes. It is a precious
time in the sight of the Lord and he sends angels to protect us as we
transition between this world and that other world now beyond our
vision. The sting of death is gone and death is swallowed up in
victory.
The death of a loved one in Christ causes us to grieve but our grief is
not like those who are without hope. With grief we can also
rejoice in the victory our loved one has experienced. Christ is
our victory even in death. “in his favour is life: weeping may
endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Psalms 30:5 UKJV.
Some golden daybreak Jesus will return to gather all his elect and with
him will come all his saints who have gone through death before
us. Our heavenly father gave his only begotten son for us that we
might have eternal life. “For He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in
Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Let us rejoice in our father’s love for us.
"How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory"
Lyrics by Stuart Townend