When A Loved One Dies

Those without hope have little comfort in the face of death, but those who know and trust the gospel have every hope. So much so, that not only is death conquered by resurrection, but the sting of death is alleviated.

 

God teaches us this in Romans 5:12,

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

 

The original cause and source of death in the world is sin.

God has no pleasure in death. It’s mankind’s self-inflicted injury. It started when man rebelled against God.

But, God, in Christ, came to earth and died a sinless death to pay the penalty for all our sins. He conquered the source of death which is sin and then defeated the effect of it when he resurrected from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:21 reads,

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

 

The gospel teaches that these benefits of the cross are offered to all men freely if they trust what Christ did for them.

The solution is when we’re reconciled to him through the sacrificial death of God’s own son and we read 2 Corinthians 5:18,

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

 

This ministry of reconciliation is given to his ambassadors to proclaim as victory over death, hell, and the grave.

Now, there’s no need for anyone to die without hope.

 

Just because our loved one is saved doesn’t mean that what we suffer at their death is any less. It’s still suffering, but the sting of death is replaced with the hope of eternal reunion and resurrection at the coming of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57,

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory [victory over death] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

That the dead in Christ continue to live is not something mystical or symbolic. It’s a truth that was explained by the gospel that works in those that believe. The dead, if they are in Christ, live forever. That they have died in their earthly body means they are in a different place. We know it to be a better place.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8,

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

 

Those who die in Christ leave us to gain a higher position in heavenly places. Some call death a promotion to glory for a saved person since the soul is not lost, but rather promoted ahead of us into the glory that we’re still waiting for while we’re in this earthly body.

Philippians 1:21,

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

 

Even with this knowledge that our saved loved one lives on in an indescribably better place the pain of that loved one’s departure is very real. But those who’re also in Christ are not ruined by that pain because even though it’s sad for us that they’re no longer with us here, they’re now operating in a better place with better blessings by the promise of the gospel of Christ. All is not lost.

 

Everyone suffers great loss when a loved one dies. Only those who face death with the hope of the gospel can be sure that the one they lost is not gone forever.

It’s written in Psalm 116:15,

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 

 

With the knowledge of the gospel we can now understand why.

 

Many people ask, “Why doesn’t God stop all suffering?”

To do that God would need to prevent life itself.

Every man, woman and child born into this present broken existence cursed by sin is subject to suffering in one way or another.

 

Suffering was not introduced by God. It was introduced by humanity through sin and its consequences. God has been involved in removing suffering and sin ever since. This is called salvation.

 

If God were to prevent all suffering immediately, then he must prevent all people born in sin from being born at all.

This would be the ultimate abortion, and would be a quick end to humanity.

 

God knows that life is better than death and would rather let people live with the hope of salvation, than to condemn them all to certain non-existence and death.

 

If there is a sure hope of salvation, then living, even in suffering, is better than not.

God shows his will in Jesus Christ being sent to suffer and die while bringing the message of hope and life to all .

Romans  5:8,

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

 

And 2 Timothy 1:9-10,

Who (that’s God) hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

 

Hope helps people endure pain by assuring us of something much greater that’s just around the corner. But some people see nothing beyond their suffering.

That’s where scripture steps in. Through the patience and comfort of the scriptures, we can have hope (Romans 15:4).

The Bible shows the evil and suffering in this world, but it also gives us a greater hope.

 

When God revealed the mystery of Christ to our apostle for the Body of Christ today, Paul, He gave the greatest comfort to those who suffer.

Colossians 1:27,

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

 

This glory is far greater than anything we suffer here.

Romans 8:18,

For I (Paul) reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

 

But we only see that through faith, not sight and that faith comes by the Word of God.

Romans 10:17,

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

 

We trust that God can and will do what 2 Corinthians 4:14 promises,

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

 

Therefore we see our suffering through the light of 2 Corinthians 4:17,

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

 

Romans 5:2-4 says this regarding our suffering,

By whom (Christ) also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 

 

Paul says in Philippians 4:11,

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

Suffering is real. It’s not something to ignore or accept without help. The treatment is hope—and that comes by faith in God’s Word rightly divided.

Some sufferings won’t go away until glory, but we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith (Gal 5:5).

Rom 8:24-25 says we’re saved by hope,

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

 

The world offers temporary comforts like jokes, food, music, positive thinking all manner of fun and amusement but these things don’t solve the real problem. Only God does. He confronts the problem and gives the solution in Jesus Christ. We were once enemies of God, but His kindness appeared as Titus 3:4 tells us. He loved us when no one else could. In Christ, we have forgiveness and eternal life and that’s real comfort.

 

Galatians 1:4 reminds us that we live in a present evil world. Sin brings suffering, but sin was paid for at the cross. One day it will be removed, completely, but until then, we trust God’s strength in our weakness.

 

To say every tragedy is God’s wrath is untrue and a poor testimony to His grace.

That’s not how God works today. That thinking ignores the mystery revealed to Paul. God’s not judging the world. Hew will one day but He’s not today. He’s offering grace and peace (2 Corinthians 5:19–20).

Even Peter saw the delay in judgment as God’s longsuffering as we see in 2 Peter 3:15.

God’s not dealing with the world through death and destruction. He’s offering reconciliation and heavenly hope.

 

When tragedy strikes, we should see it as a symptom of the broken world that Galatians 1:4 details, and let it move us to preach the gospel. Christ was made sin for us so we wouldn’t bear the punishment. Our hope is in heavenly places as we see in Colossians 3:2–4 and Philippians 3:20).

 

God has been offering salvation to a suffering dying humanity for thousands of years. It’s man that’s rejected His hope of salvation.

For Bible believing Christians suffering and death needn’t be the problem it is for a world that rejects Christ.