I intend to live my life to its fullest by the kind grace and will of our HEAVENLY FATHER, worship and be in continous contact with him by praying, reading my BIBLE and going to church.All humans fall short of THE GLORY OF GOD and each day as you wake up to another day give thanks and renew your relationship with him by asking that HE forgive your SINS.The only time we're able to commuincate with GOD is when we're still alive, when you're DEAD there is no other form of communicating with GOD.Constant fellowship with GOD gives me the confidence to face death with PEACE as I know that it is another day of eternal rest/sleep with JESUS.
Not Dead, But Sleeping
When he had entered in, he said to them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep."
The Christian should not mourn as others do. Christ has brought the truth of immortality into light. We should familiarize our minds with the Christian understanding of death. One of the areas made most clear by Christ is the understanding of believer's fate after death. We should learn to look at death in the light of Christ's teachings. Sadly, too many Christians have never entered into the peace of mind offered by the Savior's victory over the grave. Here in the account of the raising of the ruler's daughter we have a beautiful illustration of the way our Lord wants us to look at death.
When we mourn over our dead He says, “They are not dead, but sleeping. Why do you make an uproar and weep?” Our Christian friends who have died have only passed away out of our sight. They have not ceased to be. Even their bodies only sleep. As a mother in the morning calls her children and awakes them, so Christ will some day call up from their graves all who sleep in him.
Sleep is not a painful experience. It renews and strengthens the weary body. In the same way the sleep of death is a time of rest and renewal. The calling of this child back from death, and her restoration to her friends, represented what Christ will do for all his people at the end. He will restore friend to friend, and bind up again the broken fragments of households.
There is one point, however, in which the raising of this young girl does not illustrate the final resurrection of believers. She was brought back to resume the old life of toil, struggle, temptation, and sadness; ultimately to die again. But in the final resurrection believers shall rise to a new, glorious, and immortal life, without sadness or sin, in the fullness of life, joy, and blessing.
Today... How does your understanding of death influence the way you live your life? How does this understanding change your fears about death?
July 3, 2011 - 7:43am
#3
July 3, 2011 - 8:27am
#4
Well done on the correct Biblical description of death. Why do so many Christians think that you go to heaven as soon as you die? John 14:1-3 makes it clear, Jesus will come again and take us all to heaven at once. We who are alive will not preceed those who sleep (are dead). 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
July 3, 2011 - 12:32pm
#5
My mother died when I was fifteen, leaving behind a one year old girl whom we had to raise. There were 9 of us and there is no way you can tell 9 children who have been deprived of a mother so early in their lives that Christians should not mourn like others. One of the reasons I almost gave up Christianity was at the funeral. I was made to sit between two spiritual leaders and was told that if I shed a tear for my mother's death, I would go to hell immediately. I so wanted to go to heaven that I never cried for my mother'. I was not allowed to grieve. I was told give thanks in every situation. When I remember this experience, I question the spirituality of you Westerners who think crying and mourning in public is not Christian. Christ was Jewish and he wept for Lazarus, why shouldn't Christians mourn and cry for their beloved ones as Christ did. Crying and grieving does not mean that you do not have a hope to see your loved ones again. It simply means that you are human as was Christ when He wept for Lazarus.
Yes, we have a hope that we will see my mum again for she was a devout Christian woman, full of love and compassion. Yes, we know that God has looked after us but still, at every important stage of life, I can not help but ask God why He had to take her away from us so early. At my University graduation, at my wedding, at the baptism of my children, their confirmation, I miss my Mum and grieve for her loss. She loved many, adopted many children and did many amazing things, why couldn't she be allowed to continue praising God in the land of the living. 20 years following my mother's death, my two eldest sisters died, leaving me with 10 children between the two of them. I have had to raise these 9 children (one of them died) two years after his mother. All the 8 have done well and have completed University except the youngest of them who has gone astray.
So my view is that Christians should grieve and mourn their dead. They should be able to cry, tears are therapy and bring healing. This does not mean that I do not have a hope that I will see my loved ones. Christ knew that he would call Lazurus back to life yet he mourned for him..
This is an African perspective.
July 3, 2011 - 11:09pm
#6
"For me, death is merely the time of life for us to meet our Lord and go from here to Heaven. I have no fear at all, yet after being through 2 near death's this past 10 years might have something to do with that. one of the positve things about that is the rare brain damage affected memory as well as other things, which for me is better as folk tell me. I just want to give other's the reason not to fear this passing into the next and is certainly a way to give the lost an open door as well
God bless you all
brother Greg
July 4, 2011 - 1:07am
#7
Praise God for this good encouraging word,I have no fear of death any more,there was a time when I did.And of course many do and many more should,because death means different things. In Christ we rise to live forever,without Christ you rise to eternal separation from almighty God,and that is a horrible thing. And it's not necessary because Jesus Christ is still the way to God and eternal life.Wonderful devotion I am enjoying them very much,you're doing a good job Steve,thanks.
Love ya
July 4, 2011 - 8:45pm
#8
I think there's a difference between what happened with Jesus and the girl's death, and the death of a loved one. Jesus said "Why do you make an uproar and weep, the child is not dead, but asleep." because 10 minutes later, she was up and about. The difference when someone dies, and Jesus doesn't raise them from the dead, is the incredible loss in the lives of those who loved the one who passed awayj. It is right to take comfort from the fact that we will see the deceased again, but it is also right to grieve the loss of a loved one, even though we will see them again, as their death represents a seemingly insurmountable loss at the time.
July 3, 2012 - 4:54pm
#9
Thank you for this truth. There are so many lies told on this subject, while the Bible is quite clear on it - here is a short Bible study for anyone who might be interested in this subject.
The Bible compares death to sleep more than 50 times. Jesus explains it very nicely in John 11:11-14 - and He cried not for Lazarus, but for them. Those asleep in Jesus will rise at the 2nd coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:15 & 16). There are 2 resurrections (life and death - John 5:28 & 29). Nobody is an immortal soul and these words do not appear in the Bible only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:16). God did not put a soul into man - man is a living soul - dust + breath of life = a living soul (Genesis 2:7). The body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7) - there is no mention in the Bible that the soul returns to God. Therefore the spirit is the same as God's breath (Job 27:3). When the spirit returns to God all thoughts perish (Psalm 146:3&4). We seek for immortality - the Bible uses the word soul 1600 times (Romans 2:7) - we receive immortality at the Second Coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). The dead does not praise God (Psalm 115:17) David did not ascend to heaven , but is awaiting the coming of Jesus and the 1st resurrection (Acts 2:34). In the grave there is no remembrance of God (Psalm 6:5) and the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The righteous will be resurrected at the 2nd coming (Job 19:25 & 26) and yes a soul (person) can die (Ezekiel 18:4). The wages of sin is death and death is the absence of life and the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). The apostle Paul awaited the coming of the Lord for his final reward (2 Timothy 4:7 & 8) and when Jesus comes, He will bring the reward of eternal life with Him (Revelation 22:12).
And as Heaven is a real place and God our creator is in Heaven (John 14:1-3), having looked at what the Bible says about death, the Bible is also clear about Hell and right now, there is nobody in hell - the wicked will one day be destroyed by the brightness of His glory (Revelation 19:11-21) and Satan and his evil hosts will be destroyed (Revelation 20:9)
God gave us everything in the Bible, but there is such peace in knowing the truth - the study on death and hell really is just so logical and shows us how wondeful God is and how the plan of salvation - Jesus - is just so amazing!
July 3, 2012 - 4:56pm
#10
Thank you for this truth. There are so many lies told on this subject, while the Bible is quite clear on it - here is a short Bible study for anyone who might be interested in this subject.
The Bible compares death to sleep more than 50 times. Jesus explains it very nicely in John 11:11-14 - and He cried not for Lazarus, but for them. Those asleep in Jesus will rise at the 2nd coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:15 & 16). There are 2 resurrections (life and death - John 5:28 & 29). Nobody is an immortal soul and these words do not appear in the Bible only God is immortal (1 Timothy 6:16). God did not put a soul into man - man is a living soul - dust + breath of life = a living soul (Genesis 2:7). The body returns to dust and the spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7) - there is no mention in the Bible that the soul returns to God. Therefore the spirit is the same as God's breath (Job 27:3). When the spirit returns to God all thoughts perish (Psalm 146:3&4). We seek for immortality - the Bible uses the word soul 1600 times (Romans 2:7) - we receive immortality at the Second Coming (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). The dead does not praise God (Psalm 115:17) David did not ascend to heaven , but is awaiting the coming of Jesus and the 1st resurrection (Acts 2:34). In the grave there is no remembrance of God (Psalm 6:5) and the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The righteous will be resurrected at the 2nd coming (Job 19:25 & 26) and yes a soul (person) can die (Ezekiel 18:4). The wages of sin is death and death is the absence of life and the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). The apostle Paul awaited the coming of the Lord for his final reward (2 Timothy 4:7 & 8) and when Jesus comes, He will bring the reward of eternal life with Him (Revelation 22:12).
And as Heaven is a real place and God our creator is in Heaven (John 14:1-3), having looked at what the Bible says about death, the Bible is also clear about Hell and right now, there is nobody in hell - the wicked will one day be destroyed by the brightness of His glory (Revelation 19:11-21) and Satan and his evil hosts will be destroyed (Revelation 20:9)
God gave us everything in the Bible, but there is such peace in knowing the truth - the study on death and hell really is just so logical and shows us how wondeful God is and how the plan of salvation - Jesus - is just so amazing!9
sleeping or death, it was interesting to reflect on. I am a christian I came to the Lord in 1995, I recently lost a 50yr old brother , he is one of 5 children, I'm the oldest of the 5, my brother is the oldest of the boys. My brother died Oct 2008, my mother passed away 3 weeks later Nov. 2008, then we lost my hubs dad Nov. 2009. It has been really hard to cope with the losses, with my brother even as a christian I was quite traumatised, as kids we had come from bad back grounds, as the only christian, God allowed me to see how people get so wrapped up with there own situations, they can see past them when help is needed, as my family I found this very hard, but as a christian no matter how rough it got I knew Jesus was there for me, to guide me and talk to me. I was angry with God for a while of and on, but I would still pray, shorter prays perhaps, but he still listened, i found myself on some days saying to God, I 've let go of your hand, but I know you have grabbed my other hand. We are now in 2011 with the losses we have come a long way dealing with the deaths and the greatest comfort is knowing they are in a better place, no pain, no saddness, no tears, they are sleeping a peaceful sleep, death is so cold and final, where 'sleeping is peceful & serene, plus sleeping denotes another day dawning,. we will see each other again in a brand new day.