Death, grief and what next?

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10 (NKJV)

God created a perfect world and desired to live with us in harmony. Death was never part of the picture. It came into existence as a sad consequence of wrong choices. As a result this world is no longer a paradise. Here we are surrounded by pain, heartache, tears and death.

When someone close to your heart is suddenly taken away, a range of feelings and emotions flood over you. You feel confused, empty, bewildered, at a loss for words.

So what do you do next?

Cry. Grieve. Remember. Reflect. Breathe. Take one step at a time. Remember that you are not alone. Know that God feels your pain.

But above all Believe. Believe that there's more to living than this present life. Believe that God can see the end from the beginning, even though it doesn't seem to make sense to us now. Take God at His word. Remember that Jesus has conquered death. Claim His promises that He will return soon. Trust when He says that He has a future with Him for us, which we simply cannot imagine.

Have you ever fallen asleep and slept for many, many hours, only to wake up and feel like you have just closed your eyes, and while asleep you were unaware of anything that was going on around you? I know that I have experienced such deep sleep before.

The Bible tells us that death is not the final end to our life. In multiple places the Bible describes death as sleep from which we will be woken up to spend eternity with Jesus.

One such description is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Here Paul, encouraging a group of believers in Thessalonica, writes:

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (NKJV)

The Bible is filled with promises that offer hope and encouragement. So if you are experiencing loss and grief, hold on to the promises of God.

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. (NKJV)

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