“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (KJV)

In a recent home-going celebration I heard a story about life and death; it went something along these lines: There was once two brothers, one was name life and the other death. The two grew and went along as time would have it, life would go out and collect life and bring back to put in a box which he kept in his room under his watchful care-knowing death was always waiting to get his hands on it. On one particular day he was in a rush, ran out of his room and forgot to lock the box and store it away. Death seizing the opportunity came in and took all of the life away. On returning home, life was heartbroken knowing what death had done-so he ran to his father, the father loving look at his son life and said, I saw him and know what he has done…but let not your heart be trouble, I came in and got the life and it is safe with me forever…death only has the box!

My friends the word of the Lord tells us that it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; death is an enemy that comes in unaware…and leaves the heart broken; but even though we shed tears there is absolutely no doubt that those of us… who are the “sons of God” can rest in the promises of God’s unconditional love…Romans 8:38-39 state “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

The finality of death and the inability to touch, hold and converse with our loved ones is what saddens the heart. Grief is a process that we all have experienced and will never get use too. But when we know the Lord as our risen Savior; hope softens the grief, comforts the soul and gently wipes away our tears.

Jesus promised all of His children in John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  This is the hope of every born again believer; we will live in eternity with the Lord. So then, Paul could write with certainty and by the Spirit of the Lord in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 

I am assured by the Word of God that a day comes when His children cease from their labors in this life and enter into His rest; Hebrews 4:9-10 state: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

This rest gives freedom from the dominion of sin, Satan and the flesh in this present existence. I am constantly reminded the older that I get that 2 Corinthians 4:16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”  Our physical bodies are only temporary, but all of God’s children have a building not made by hands!

Therefore, I too shed a tear in the memory of a loved one,  as many of you do as well, but not in hopelessness; our hope lies in the certainty that we will see our loved ones again. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye 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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; our goodbyes are only momentary, because one day, the dead in Christ shall rise and we who remain in this life, will be caught up in the air to ever be with Lord.

Earth my friends, have no sorrow that heaven cannot heal; yes we will shed tears, whether it was yesterday, a year ago, or many  years ago; He alone will usher into our hearts sweet peace. Our Heavenly Father, who is merciful and full of grace and the God of all comfort, will wipe away all our tears now and in eternity: Revelation 21:4 promises: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

May God’s comfort, blessings and enduring love be with all those who mourn the memory of a dear loved one; our Heavenly Father  is faithful that promised!