‘‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ‘ Revelation 21:4-5
My wife asked me to help with the subject of death. Her brother, Dexter, just passed away. He suffered COVID over the last year, and his battle to survive ended on Thursday, July 14, 2022.
He was hospitalized last year and spent time on a ventilator, and as I understand it by those around him, the hospital had written him off as dead while he was on the ventilator.
But by God’s grace and mercy, he came out of the coma and was making a comeback. He was a real fighter.
Tracy loved her brother and tried to see him as often as she could. She was the closest relative to Dexter.
If you had to describe Tracy’s relationship with Dexter, you would say it was rocky at best. You had two strong personalities, and sometimes they clashed.
Tracy had different reasons this time to visit her brother. She was concerned about her brother’s soul and where he would spend eternity after God took him from this earth.
Tracy had changed over the last couple of years after rededicating her life back to Jesus.
God gave her the chance to talk to her brother about when they were kids, and they were baptized with each other. And she would remind him of his decision when he was younger to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Tracy knows where her brother is now. She knows that He is in heaven with God. The promise is:
‘For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ‘ Romans 10:11-13
Dexter did this when he was a boy, and Tracy remembers this clearly.
Tracy was also comforted when Mary, Dexter’s wife, told her that she recalls hearing Dexter talking peacefully to someone in the other room on Wednesday night before he passed. She told Tracy that she felt Dexter was talking to God before giving up the fight.
When you are a Christian, it is sad when those around you pass away. You grieve the loss. You don’t get to hear their voices or see them smile anymore. It is a loss on this side of eternity, but when both of you are going to heaven, not only did you get to enjoy their company here during this time, but you will spend eternity with them in the presence of God.
The question we have to answer on this side of eternity is:
‘When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ‘ Matthew 16:13-17
We need to answer this question about Jesus Christ, “Who do you say I am?”
The only answer that will get us to spend eternity in heaven with the people that we love is to call on the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Why Jesus, some will say?
It is Jesus because He laid down His life as a sacrifice for ours. And by accepting that forgiveness and grace from God, we spend eternity in heaven with God.
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ‘ John 14:6-7
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the idea of death should no longer have the same effect it did before we accepted the Lord. Our family and friends who die that we know are born again; as we are sad that we no longer have their company on this earth, we know they are in heaven with the Lord.
Our sadness turns to joy. If they were suffering, we know they are in their heavenly bodies.
‘So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.’ 1 Corinthians 15:45-58
As Christians, we can celebrate the death of those born again. For when we die, we are in the presence of the Lord.
‘I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 6:19-23
As we traverse the grieving process, we are confident that God will see us through that.
‘The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ‘ Psalms 34:17-18
‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ‘ Psalms 147:3
‘ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” ‘ John 14:1-4
Heavenly Father, please help my wife and her family through this trying time.
More than that, I pray for their hearts. I pray that they come to the saving grace that You provide, and that You make their hearts right with Jesus, so they can all spend eternity with Dexter.
I am thankful for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!
