Your loved one has passed away, and the great time of reflection has begun. While mourning is appropriate for a season, you realize that you must make sense of what has happened and eventually move forward without your dearly departed. Two distinct pathways lie before you.
First, you can just go back to the way things have always been and simply trudge through life, day after day, knowing you will never again see the one you have loved so dearly for so long. Or, a second choice is available, which seems to always be presented by the peculiars (some call them Jesus freaks), after someone who lived for Jesus passes. Perhaps, listening to those who tell you there is hope to see your loved one again, at what they call the rapture, is the best way forward. After all, it could not hurt to at least listen to what they have to say about your most pressing question, what now?
Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, death comes for each and every person. God did not intend this. Instead, He created man and placed him in a beautiful garden in which was the tree of life. The fruit from this tree provided eternal life. However, God could not allow men to live forever in a state of sin brought on by eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. To prevent this, he removed mankind from the garden (Gen 3). [1] Without the tree of life, men began to die, and the pattern has been the same ever since: Birth, followed by a limited number of days of living, then death.
This surely seems to be a very bleak outlook, but not for all. No, a group called Christians seems to have found a way to live longer. They, in fact, say they have found a way to live forever. When asked where this hope comes from, their reply is simply, “From faith in Jesus Christ.” Perhaps this is why they are considered Jesus freaks, a term usually used in a disparaging way by unbelievers toward believers, who, if asked, would simply say they are “the people of the way.” You guessed it; the ‘way’ is Jesus Christ, and belief in Him replaces the need for a physical tree of life:
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
This idea that Christians follow the way is bolstered by the fact that, before they were called Christians, throughout the book of Acts, those who followed Christ were referred to as “people of the way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4; 24:14; 24:22). This simply means Christians are people who have discovered that following Jesus is the only ‘way’ to live.
The question before you today is how do you want to live from this moment forward? Do you want to return to your former daily routine without hope of a reunion with all of your believing loved ones who have gone before you? Or, would you rather investigate the ‘way’ of Jesus Christ and begin a journey that will result in eternal life? The choice is yours. You see, God did not force man to serve Him in the Garden of Eden, nor has he ever mandated worship. Instead, He made a way whereby men could freely choose to believe in the one truth that can set men free.
John, the beloved apostle, recorded perhaps the most famous Scripture of all in John 3:16. However, most stop short of the intended message of this passage which actually extends from John 3:16 through John 3:21:
John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
Rest assured, God the Father sent God the Son to earth. Being conceived by God the Holy Spirit, in a virgin named Mary, ensured that Jesus was born sinless. Fortunately, Jesus remained sinless, and He willingly died for all sinful people. This death made it possible for God, when judging man, to see the blood of His Son instead of the sin of each man or woman. There is only one catch; each person must decide whether or not to place their trust in this ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This trust is what affords the blood covering which washes white as snow (Psa 51:7; Acts 22:16; Eph 1:7; Heb 10:19-23; 1 John 1:7-9; Rev 1:5, 7:14). Scripture calls this making a way where there was no way (Isa 43). Oh, by the way, the good news does not stop here.
God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 8:11); and Jesus, after ascending into heaven, now prepares a place in His Father’s house for those who believe in Him (John 14:1-3; Rom 8:12-13). Jesus considers those who believe in Him, His bride, and He now awaits the command of the Father to come to retrieve His betrothed and bring her to the place He has prepared. By the way, this bride consists of all who have ever believed in Jesus. This means that all of your believing loved ones will be raised from the dead, just as Christ was; and any who are alive when Jesus returns will also be changed into incorruptible beings, in other words, immortals, who will live forever as the bride of Christ.
Sounds like any number of the current Hollywood productions, huh? Rest assured, what is about to take place is not fictional. No, the events outlined here are as real as it gets, and anyone who knows Jesus will tell you the time for the event called the rapture is upon us. All of the conditions you are seeing around you are proof positive that, indeed, the end has come. [2] The real question is how will you deal with the ‘what now’ that you face? [3]
God, in His Word, has provided everything you need to know about the conundrum you are experiencing. However, with all the distractions that vie for your attention, hearing what God says has become very challenging. Especially when everywhere you look, the Word of God is shunned: No longer is God accepted in schools; No longer is God accepted in the public square; and sadly, no longer is God accepted in society at large. Incredibly, some people only hear anything about God at the funeral of a loved one.
This great shunning of God’s word has created two distinct groups of people. First, the peculiar—heaven-bound who, having heard the Word of God, place their trust in Jesus Christ. Second, the earthbound are those who agree with the shunning of God’s Word and only put their trust in the things of this world. [4] Sadly, to shun God’s Word is to shun salvation itself. For, the very faith one needs to experience salvation comes from hearing God’s Word. Scripture makes this very clear:
Romans 10:8-15
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Today, I have been sent to you. The Lord God desires to commune with you. He wishes to provide you comfort, which can only come from Him, especially at this moment of bereavement. You see, the story shared earlier about Jesus returning for the bride is meant to bring you comfort. In fact, the apostle Paul encouraged the first members of the church, who had started to lose loved ones, by assuring them that Jesus would return for both the dead in Christ and those still living who trust in Christ. For greater clarity, here is what the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica:
1 Thess 4:13-18
“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. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (emphasis mine).
This teaching on the rapture is, therefore, intended to bring peace in the midst of this fierce storm you are in. [5] Paul provided further comfort amidst instruction on how to go forth in your quest to meet your loved one again, in the words he penned in a letter to one of the leaders of the church, Titus:
Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Couple this message of blessed hope with the encouragement which comes from the teachings presented here today about the rapture, and a great formula for success emerges. However, first things first; in order to believe any of the aforementioned scriptural truths, one must believe that, because of the sinfulness of man, God sent His Son to die for the sins of all; and that Jesus fulfilled His mission after which God raised Him from the dead. Then and only then can any other scriptural truth be known. Once this giant hurdle of unbelief is finally cleared, you are ready to draw comfort from the fact that Jesus is coming back for you and all of the believing loved ones who have gone on before you.
By the way, if you choose to take option two and learn of Jesus Christ, you too will now be considered a peculiar one. Albeit, once you become peculiar, the meaning of the term takes on an entirely different meaning. To a believer, being peculiar does not mean being odd or out of place. Instead, it is indicative of a holy life, a life now set apart for the Master’s use. With this in mind, being peculiar is actually the best way to possibly live since the ordinary represents the sinful nature of man. [6]
Conclusion
Losing loved ones is part of the process of life. Immediately after birth, the dying process begins. Only God knows the number of days each will have. Therefore, I pose this question. How will you spend the rest of your days? Will you go back to the status quo and just try to go along to get along? Or will you decide, right here and now, to make a change that brings life eternal? God has made a way for you where there was no way. Will you accept the fact that He loved you enough to send His only begotten, sinless Son to die for you? Will you join the peculiar and assume the posture of the bride of Christ and await the forever faithful bridegroom, Jesus Christ, who will reunite you with your loved ones? If so, you can expect to have peace in the midst of this and any other storm you may face.
Website: In His Commission
March 22nd, 2022
[1] “Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the King James Version.”
[2] For better understanding, see the article, “The Five W’s of the Rapture.”
[3] If the rapture has already taken place, see the article, “Open Letter to Those Who Miss the Rapture.”
[4] For better understanding, see the article, “Heaven or Earth Bound?”
[5] For better understanding, see the article, “Why We Explore Eschatology.”
[6] For greater understanding, see the article, “While We Wait.“