“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.” (1st Thess. 4:13)
In one sense we do, those who have been born again grieve just as deeply as the wicked do, but we have something they do not possess, they have hope, we have assurances, their hope has no foundation, ours rests on the rock of our salvation, upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the promises of the Word of God.
Those who were loved by us that gave their lives for the glory of God we will see again, and we will never be separated from them. I and many others personally believe that, even though they have no eternal soul, we will be able to spend time with our beloved pets. The grieving of the one who has been crucified with Christ is deep but does not sting like it does for those who do not serve the risen Savior, it does not tear us apart for years, does not drive us to specialized doctors of the mind because we cannot cope with the loss. We have been promised by Him whose promises are true. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1st Cor. 15:55)
My beautiful wife and I used to watch a program called “Hoarders,” where people would surround themselves with the things of the world, massive amounts of items, and the majority of them did so because someone they loved died, and these people could not handle the emotional trauma that swept over them. That is what the death of one we love brings, an emotional trauma, a great wound to the heart, and for a short time, different for each of us, we do grieve as the wicked do. But then the promises are recalled, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit reminds us that they are not dead, in fact in one way they are more alive now than they ever were.
Death has no continuous sting for us, it is but temporary, but for those who do not serve the Living God, that death of one they loved, that sting can fester, and it will over time begin to blame God. At best the only peace, if one can call it that, that those individuals have is if their loved one dies of a very old age and then not in any pain at all.
Have you ever witnessed the difference between a mother saved and a mother lost when their child dies? The sorrows initially are comparable, but over time only one of them will learn to smile again, only one can live with the calm assurance that she will hold that child in her arms again. We do grieve like them, but only for a short time.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1st Cor. 2:9)
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)
They are in better hands than we could ever have given them, they are safer, more secure, more protected and yes, even more loved than we could ever have offered them. They are home. We are still here, but our time will come, how is up to the Lord, how you accept the promises is entirely up to you.
No human being can ever replace that hole in your heart of the loved one who is gone, but they do not need to, that place is still filled, for those who trust in the Lord, that spot in your heart will always be theirs. You will see them again.
Help those who have lost a loved one to death, show them the joy you know, grieve with them, but show them Him who has promised to reunite them with you for all eternity.
