DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?

By Denise Shaw

The death of a loved one is never an easy thing to experience. However, we don't have to be hopeless or face it alone.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him...Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

First of all, it's important to notice that the Bible refers to those who have died in the Lord as being asleep.

The word sleep, in its most basic definition, means to rest the body - a temporary state without ordinary consciousness.

Human beings are created in three parts: spirit, soul and body.

We are spirit beings. The real man is the spirit man - the part that is recreated when we are born again.

We possess a soul (our mind, will, intellect and emotions). It is very closely intertwined with the spirit of man (Hebrews 4:12), almost to the point of being inseparable.

We live in a physical, flesh and blood body.

When a person's body dies, he basically moves out of his earthly house to a heavenly home.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

God does not view death as we humans do. It is not the end of life. It is simply a transition from a temporary state of being to an eternal one.

For those left behind, it is important to remember to keep an eternal perspective.

First Thessalonians 4:13 tells us to, "sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." In Christ Jesus we have the promise of eternal life.

Therefore, those loved ones who fall asleep in the Lord have simply moved from this world into eternity. We shall see them again. There is hope.

That same Scripture passage also says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren...."

In my own life I have experienced both the loss of a parent and grandparents. I know what it is to face grief; what it is to miss someone I cherish.

However, because I was not completely ignorant concerning what God's Word says about death, I was able to keep the proper perspective and not be paralyzed with grief as some are.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52,54-55
"Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...
"...Death is swallowed up in victory.
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

I few years ago, a friend of mine was going through a difficult time. Her father had passed away quite suddenly just days before the birth of her first child. She was not even able to attend the funeral because of her condition.

When the time came to deliver her son, she had to have emergency surgery because the baby was in the wrong position.

Not only was she facing the new challenges of motherhood, she had to recover from major surgery and deal with the death of her father all at the same time.

I can only imagine what that must have been like.

However, thank the Lord, she didn't lose her focus. She kept her gaze firmly upon the One from Whom her help comes.

One night when it seemed that the pain and disappointment was more than she could bear, the Holy Spirit brought a scripture to her mind.

It was 1 Corinthians 15:55: "Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory?"

It suddenly occurred to her that her father would see her son one day; that they would have a chance to get to know each other in eternity.

With this perspective she was able to put aside her own feelings of loss and take comfort in the fact that even in death, there is no victory for our enemy.

After the Lord reminded her of that passage, she was comforted so much that her grief was short-lived. She was able to go on with her life with no long-term effects from the sudden blow the enemy had dealt to her family.

According to 1 Corinthians 15:26, death is the last enemy to be destroyed.

Because of what God did for us at the Christ's resurrection, death is only a temporary state for our bodies.

First Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 make it very clear that for those who sleep in Christ Jesus, they shall rise to live again. Not only will they rise, they will have new bodies - bodies that are no longer laden with sickness or disease - bodies that never grow old.

Now that's something to shout about! Hallelujah!

In keeping an eternal perspective, it's important to recognize the source of death.

Contrary to popular opinion and religious tradition, God is not in the business of taking people's lives. Jesus came to give abundant life (John 10:10). The thief, the devil, is the one that kills and destroys.

Oftentimes, God gets blamed for things for which He's had absolutely nothing to do.

Don't get me wrong. When believers enter into eternity, of course, God gladly receives them unto Himself. But, that doesn't mean that it was His will for them to die at that time or in that manner.

Things happen. Sometimes, believe it or not, God's will is not carried forth in the earth.

For example, it is His will for all to be saved, but do all receive Him?

We have an adversary who roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

There are all sorts of reasons why things happen the way they do, but our loving Father gets the blame far too often.

It's hard to see a family lose a parent or a child.

It hurts to lose a loved one. We miss them.

However, if we can keep our eyes on the Lord and allow Him to comfort us in the midst of our sorrow, He truly can give us "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isaiah 61:3).

There are times when the love of God has been more real to me than life itself, especially during the times when I have lost loved ones. He was right there with me, gently ministering, giving strength and courage when my heart grew faint.

It has been during those times that I have experienced the reality of spiritual things, being able to understand them like never before.

I remember when my grandmother passed away a few years ago. It had to be one of the most difficult things I had ever faced.

She died of skin cancer, scarred and grotesque all about her head and face. It was the most awful thing I have ever personally witnessed.

For reasons I am not at liberty to discuss at this time, she did not receive healing.

It wasn't God's fault. But He was happy to receive her unto Himself when she breathed her last.

Shortly before Granny moved to heaven, while in prayer, God gave me a vision of her being caught away into glory.

Right before my eyes, the beauty of her youth was restored to her.

I can't tell you what that meant to me - how beautiful it was to see such a transformation.

Then, in the very next instant, I caught a glimpse of the devil wearing that awful tumor on his head.

I suddenly realized something: That is exactly how JUST our God truly is. Our adversary, the author of sickness and disease, the devil, will bear the full brunt of all the suffering he has placed on humanity as part of his eternal punishment.

The next time I see the devil, I thoroughly expect to see him wearing that tumor on his head.

That little mini-vision changed my whole perspective. It brought such joy it literally made me laugh. God helped me exchange the ashes and mourning for beauty and the oil of joy.

It was such a privilege to sing with all in attendance, "I'll Fly Away," at my grandmother's graveside services. I could almost hear her rich alto voice joining in.

What am I saying?

Sometimes things happen that we may not understand. But we must not blame God.

We must allow God (and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter) to minister to us in ways that only He can, driving despair away with a whisper.

If we focus upon the truths of God's Word, death will have no sting; the grave will have no victory. We will be free to go on with our lives knowing that God is faithful!

May / June 2002