When somebody dies, we always ask a lot of questions. Some of the questions can be answered and some cannot.
The most difficult question to answer starts with ‘why?’. “Why did it happen? Why did someone whom I love die?”
The Bible offers us answers on the question of life and death. Here are some of the things that we should remember:
First, we will all die.
The natural course of our life here on earth ends with our death. James 4:14 says, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
Life is indeed short. And since we cannot know when we will die, the Bible teaches us to live a life with a purpose. It is not then a question of death but on how well we live.
Psalm 39:4 says, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!” This verse tells us to acknowledge our mortality. When we know how limited our days here on earth, we change our perspective and dedicate our lives to God.
Second, a believer of Jesus Christ is saved for all eternity.
Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that when we are absent with the body, we are present with the Lord. This means that a Christian is with Jesus Christ throughout all eternity. In the same manner, a non-believer of Jesus Christ is not in the presence of the Lord forever.
Let us decide to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, and be assured that when we die, we will be with the Lord in heaven.
Inspite of the death of our loved one, with faith we can still say with Job (1:21) “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
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Two members of our family have passed away – Rolando Villareal Gimay of La Castellana (August 9) and Francis Jalando-on Moya of Kabankalan City (August 17).
Rolando was the uncle of my wife, Hermely Gimay Agriam. He was a former encargado of a hacienda.
Francis was my uncle, the son of my grandmother, Luz Jalando-on Moya, sister of my grandfather, Roberto Alvarez Jalando-on Sr.
He was a writer and editor of many publications. – NWI
