On Easter Sunday my grandfather passed on to sleep in The Lord. This post is written in reflection of my thoughts and encouragement for others whose loved ones have gone to sleep in The Lord.

Death is something people are often scared of. How  will it happen? When  will it happen? We want to be able to live our lives to the fullest, and accomplish all we would like to do. From the day Adam and Eve fell until the day Jesus rose from the dead, death held us ransom.

When a person has been captured and is being held for ransom, the perpetrators rely on the compassion of the person’s loved ones to get the payment they desire. So relating that to the scriptures in John 3:16 we hear that; God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son to die for us and pay our ransom.  Now, whoever believes in The Son can have eternal life. Death and Sin still remain in humanity, but they do not determine our lives. God made the sacrifice over 2,000 years ago, so that we would know about the great love He has for us. God does for us, what we mere humans cannot do for ourselves. He saves us from living in despair and without hope. Through His son, and the decision he made, He has given us new life and hope of a resurrection morning when we shall live for eternity with him. God is not a distant, all powerful being or  tyrant, who demands payment for our sins. He has already paid for our sins. God doesn’t demand ransom, he provides us with his son, who paid the price.  God doesn’t hold us as prisoners, he sets us free from sin.  “Christ has truly set us free” Galations 5:1 

On the cross, sin was rendered powerless. Satan seemed to be victorious in the Garden of Eden, when Eve and Adam ate the apple and brought sin into mankind. He also seemed to be victorious when Jesus was betrayed, tortured and hung onto the cross where he died. However, God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus  Christ rose from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection changed EVERYTHING for mankind. In Christ we are now free, restored, redeemed and reconciled back to God. We have been given the free gift of eternal life. 

The Greatest gift in the world (Anon)

The Author of the Gift
God
The Incentive of the Gift
so loved 
The Content of the Gift
His only Begotten Son
The Universality of the Gift 
whoever
The means of appropriation
Believes
The Benefits of its Gift 
Negative: Not Perish
Positive: Have eternal Life

 

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭14-15‬ NLT) From this we learn that, Jesus had to become human (“flesh and blood”) so he could die and rise again, in order to destroy the devil’s power over death. (Romans 6:5-11). Only then could he deliver those who had lived in constant fear of death, and free them to live for him. When we belong to God, we need not fear death, for we know that death is only the beginning of eternal life. Therefore, death should no longer be a source of dread or fear. Christ overcame it, and one day we will also. Christ’s death and resurrection free us from the fear of death because death had been DEFEATED. Many of us may experience death in one way or another but death is not the end; instead, it is the doorway to a new life. We have hope beyond the grave.

 

Just as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” 

The enemy (Satan)  has done the worst he can do. When he snatches loved ones prematurely, that is the worst he can do. The victory of Satan is not permanent, he has already been defeated.  Those who are ill and suffer before they die are victorious after death. Why? Because the Devil can no longer torment them, they are free. Death = Victory!

 

An empty grave is there to prove our Saviour lives. Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because we know, He holds the future. Life is worth living because He lives. 

I’ve experienced the death of a few loved ones, but I Thank God for gift of His Son. His resurrection, gives hope to myself, and should give the same to other Christians. May we all be reunited with our loved ones on that glorious resurrection morning, when those asleep in Christ will wake up. Their bodies will be transformed and we who are still alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet our Lord and spend eternity with Him and our Father. In eternity, “God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4. In the meantime, we should remember , “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

“It is finished” was not the end. It was just the beginning, for greater things that were yet to come! 

 

Stay Blessed,

Dara x