I too often stand beside a grave, watching as another grieving family lays a loved one’s body to rest. My words are insufficient, at that time, to remove their pain or ease their loss. I’ve been there myself. Humanly, it just stinks.
But I’m supposed to make some sense to the situation. That’s why I was called. Come and help this family deal with their loss. Come and ‘do’ a funeral. Every time, I struggle. I can quote scripture for them, I can read the obituary column and share memories. I can even sing if asked. But what they really need is to sense the Lord’s heart, to feel His arms, to know that He understands their grief. They need the comfort only He can give.
And they need to see death from God’s perspective.
The night before He was crucified, Jesus prayed for His followers. It’s a beautiful, meaningful prayer. Near the end, He said, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24) That verse ministered to me personally as I recently stood beside the grave of my wife’s brother. It changed my perspective of death.
Recently I stood beside another grave and quoted that verse. The Spirit of God brought a sudden clarity to my mind, and I shared these thoughts. Maybe they will help you also see the heart of God in the death of a believer.
Not so long ago I walked my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Up to then, I was ‘the man’ in her life. But at her wedding I gave her hand in marriage to another man. I was no longer ‘the man’ for her. As we walked, memories flooded into my mind of the special times we had shared. I was saddened at the thought that it would never be quite the same.
At the other end of the aisle stood a young man. His attitude was totally different than mine. He was so excited for that day. His eyes lit up when he saw my daughter. He was so longing to receive his bride and begin a new life with her.
I believe, based on John 17:24, that Jesus’ perspective of death is similar to that of the groom. We are on the earthly side, like the bride’s father. We are grieved at losing this loved one. We remember the happy times, but also the struggles we shared. And we grieve at our loss. But on the ‘other side’ of the grave stands Jesus. He is joyously anticipating the believers first glimpse of His true glory. He longs for them to come home. I can almost hear Him saying, “Father, may they come NOW? I want them to be with me, forever. Hurray! It’s their time to come home.”
If someone knows Jesus as their Savior and Lord, if they are trusting His death on the cross to be the sufficient sacrifice for their sins, that is what they experience when they die. Suddenly in the Lord’s presence, seeing His glory so clearly! How awesome!
My sister-in-law wept as her beloved breathed his last. But about fifteen seconds later she stopped and said, “I wonder what he’s doing right now?” Gazing on the face of Jesus! Touching His hand. Seeing His glory!
“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace! When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land! What a day, glorious day, that will be.”
Pastor John