A Christian View of Death: No More Tears
Today's Scripture
"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.'" - Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
Thoughts for Today
The mystery that overshadows death comes from our inability to understand what the death of self means. It seems impossible for us to contemplate non-being. In our own unconscious, we are all convinced of our own immortality. This is reflected in the old Pennsylvania Dutch proverb which says, "Death will come to thee and thee, but not to me."
Death can be frightening to anyone who has not received Jesus as savior. Fear of the unknown. But anyone who belongs to Christ has nothing to fear. Believers will be moving on to the presence of God in a perfect place for all eternity.
Death is not necessarily a painful experience. There are times when pain may precede death, but for the believer, it is liberating. No more tears. No death or sorrow or crying or pain. Believers can look forward to joy they can't even imagine. And that joy will never end.
Consider this …
God wants everyone to spend eternity with him. That's why he sacrificed so much to make it possible.
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, be encouraged to choose to follow him. This is the most important decision you will ever make. If you are a believer, pray about the spiritual condition of your friends and loved ones. Do your best to introduce them to Jesus before it is too late.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 NIV
Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the assurance that through him my sins are forgiven. Thank you that since I belong to him, there is nothing to fear about death. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from …
Handling Loss and Grief: How to Face Losses in Life and Grieve Christianly by Raymond T. Brock, Ed.D. This study teaches participants what the Bible has to say about handling the losses of life. It offers biblical coping methods for facing loss.
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