Part of my ministry involves offering comfort and encouragement to those who are going through difficult times. For most people, suffering the loss of a loved one is an incredibly painful experience.
I find that I can comfort and encourage those who are grieving with Jesus’ words, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” 1. The words of comfort in the Bible are ours through the sacrifice of Jesus’ love when He died on the cross for our sins. Heaven is real. It is a place where there will be no more sorrow, death, or pain and where all our tears will be washed away 2. We will undoubtedly miss our loved ones for a time, but we have the hope of the life to come.
But when I speak to someone who does not believe in God or Jesus, what can I say to them? What comfort can be offered? When I think about what it must be like to not know the truth of Jesus’ love and forgiveness, and of my place with Him in heaven, I find myself thinking only of hopelessness. To believe that this life is all there is must be very disappointing. What a contrast there is between believing that only a void of non-existence awaits and believing in the hope of eternal life where we will live in a glorious heavenly city illuminated by the glory of God! 3
A while ago my teenage daughter had a conversation with a man about death. He was an agnostic and said that he had a strong fear of dying and that he had never met a person who did not to some degree. He asked my daughter if she feared death, to which she answered with conviction, “No, because I know where I am going!” He was taken aback by the certainty of her statement and asked, “How can you know?” She answered, “Because the Bible says, ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life’ 4.”
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the difference between hope and fear when it comes to death.
Jesus loves you. He longs to live in your heart if you’ll just open your life to Him. You can pray a simple prayer such as:
Dear Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. I believe that You died for me. I invite You into my life. Please fill me with Your love and Holy Spirit. Help me to love You and others and live by the truth in the Bible. Amen.