Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26
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“Thumbs Up” in the Face of Death
A picture of my father was taken a month before his death. It was a day or so before he received a terminal cancer diagnosis. He was seated in a chair with the expanse of the ocean behind him. The sun was setting over his shoulder. His time in the body was short. Yet, in the picture, he gives a “thumbs up” or “all ok” sign. His thumb points towards his soon destination – heaven.
When my father found out about his dire prognosis he told Mom, “We have to be strong.” Repeatedly in the last few weeks of his life he would say, “I’ve got to go.” and then point to heaven. I have never seen anyone so ready to go. He knew his work was done. He fully accepted the Father’s will and timing with humor and without rancor. His desire was not to be a burden to his family. Our role became one of reassuring him that all was taken care of so that he could “go.” We told him that his time of passing was not up to us or our will, but between him and Jesus.
He began to tell us of his “nightly callings.” It was fascinating to us as he shuttled between this world and the next to hear of the assembly in heaven of loved ones and his talks with Jesus regarding his impending demise. It seemed much of this was to prepare us for the timing and to make our faith ever more real.
He’s Not Dead
Dwight Moody was quoted as saying, “Someday you will read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I was born of the flesh in 1837, I was born of the spirit in 1855. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit shall live forever.”
My father was led to belief in the grace gospel of Jesus Christ at the age of twelve by his father, after whom I am named. The point of this post is that my father (or any other believing loved one of yours or mine) is not dead.
What is Death?
There is an understanding regarding death that is not biblical. Death is not annihilation or complete dissolution. Death does not mean the non-existence of something that once had life. Death, according to James 2:26, is the separation of the material body from the immaterial heart, soul and spirit. The body returns to the dust from which it was originally created (Gen 2:7) – but that is not the end of the story. Salvation includes the entire constitution of man – body, soul, and spirit.
What is Resurrected?
In the John 11:25-26, Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection and the life. He says regarding this life, “… He who believes in Me should not perish but have everlasting life.” Also, “He who has the Son has life.” This eternal life, the life of God, is the present possession of all those in Christ Jesus.
But what of the resurrection? We’ve already said that my father is not dead. He is alive today in heaven. What is resurrected?
The mortal body, flesh and blood, cannot inherit the imperishable (1 Cor 15:50). It must die, be transformed, and, then, be resurrected. The resurrection is of the body. The same body that dies is the one that is changed and raised. The resurrection rejoins a transformed spiritual body to its soul and spirit. Our immortal bodies will be like Christ’s and share His glory. This immortal body will never be touched by sin or death.
In Rom 8 it says that the mortal will put on immortality and that death will be swallowed up in victory. In Revelation 21:4 it says He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; all those things will pass away. Jesus said, “I have come to make all things new.”
Hope Defined
We grieve our loss and the loss of fellowship, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). Hope is the firm and sure conviction that what has been promised will be completed. Taking hold of the hope set before us is our call – this hope we have as an anchor of the soul (Heb 6:19). Faith that takes hold of hope as an anchor receives grace in times of need (Heb 4:16) for all the circumstances of life.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is a much-loved Psalm often read at memorials.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23: 1-6
The part that pertains to my Dad and all “in Christ” that have passed is the last line – “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” All of the other 5 ½ verses relate to living believers. The focus is upon all that Jesus does for us “all the days of our lives.” This message is for us today as we continue our walk with the Lord.
The Good Shepherd who has died for us (Psalm 22) is also the Great Shepherd who lives in us and cares for us at every step along the way (Psalm 23). He will meet our needs. As the Chief Shepherd (Psalm 24) He will one day return to rule in perfect righteousness and peace so that His glory will fill the earth. Our future will be fulfilled in His.
The Comparison of Suffering and Glory
When we get to heaven and look back we will see that only His goodness and mercy has followed us all the days of our lives. We will agree with Him, of whom it is said “for the joy set before Him endured the shame of the cross,” that it has all been worth it. Paul compares the suffering of our present life to the glory that awaits us:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:18-23
Under the old covenant the sheep died for the shepherd, but under the new covenant the Shepherd died for the sheep – and we shall meet our Shepherd in heaven.
We thank the Father for the life of our loved ones. We thank the Father for His eternal life, which is the grace gift and life of the Son. The message for those reading this post today is “thumbs up.” Truly, the best is yet to come…
Scripture – The Firm and Sure Conviction of Christian Hope Regarding Death
Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-2
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Rom 8:18
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Rom 8:31
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:37-39
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “ Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:54-57
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord — for we walk by faith, not by sight — we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 1 Cor 5:6-8
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Phil 1:21
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 1 Thess 4:13
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Rev 21:3-5
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16
