To lose a loved one
or a friend to death
is a traumatic
experience to say
the least. Most, if
not all of us, have
been there.
Particularly for
those who believe in
heaven and hell, it
is only natural to
want the best for
them after death.
Unfortunately, far
too many people do
not face reality at
this point.
For several years
now, I have noticed
comments made by the
living concerning
those who have died
before us. I have
noticed especially
those comments made
of the deceased that
brought alarm and
sadness to play.
There are many cases
where only God knows
the eternal destiny
of an individual who
dies, but He gives
us a strong clue as
to what to look for
in someone’s life as
to whether or not
they are a child of
God. Please read
Matthew 7:13-29.
John the Apostle
also states,
“They
went out from us,
but they were not of
us; for if they had
been of us, they
would no doubt have
continued with us:
but they went out,
that they might be
made manifest that
they were not all of
us.” (1 John
2:19)
The comments below
have been stated of
people who have
passed away, but
never showed any
signs of faith in
Jesus Christ being
alive in their
lives, and actually
most were quite the
contrary.
·
I’m sure ______ has
a party rocking in
heaven right now.
·
______ has gone home
now, guided by his
faith and by the
light of those he
has loved and lost.
·
May God Bless
______, and may he
rest in eternal
peace.
·
Your works, all of
them, over many
years praise you.
·
She is resting
peacefully next to
her son.
·
I would like to end
by thanking God for
taking ______ at her
most beautiful and
radiant.
·
They’ve gone home.
·
The angels are
rejoicing.
·
Heaven got even
better when they
arrived.
·
Heaven could never
reject one who has
done so much for
others.
·
Heaven now has one
of our best.
·
They’re at rest.
·
They’re at peace.
·
They’re in a better
place.
·
They’re looking down
on us.
Whether these
comments (and many
others) come from
people I know or
those in the public
eye who I do not
know, if the
deceased did not
know Jesus Christ as
their personal
Savior, they are not
“resting
peacefully”. Jesus
said that He is the
only way to the
Father,
“Jesus
saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth,
and the life: no man
cometh unto the
Father, but by me.”
(John 14:6)
No matter how much
you may have liked
or loved the
deceased, if they
did not know Jesus
as Savior, they died
lost. No matter how
close they were to
you in relationship,
if they did not know
Jesus as Savior,
they died lost. This
is why we need to
witness to those we
love while they are
alive, but how can
one witness about
Jesus, if they too
do not know Him?
Very often those who
make no bones about
not being a
Christian are the
first to assume that
everything is okay
with their loved one
or friend. Why is
this? It is due to a
wishy-washy state of
religion that has
befallen the church
today.
·
Most Christians are
basically ignorant
of the Word, and do
not witness.
·
Most who claim to be
Christians think
they can “walk the
aisle” and then
“walk with the
world” and
everything will be
okay.
·
Most think that
since God is love,
He would never send
anyone to hell, even
when He has actually
done all He can to
provide the only
escape, His Son
Jesus.
·
Most think, “I’m a
good person, so
everything will be
okay.”
·
Most have no
understanding of the
Biblical term
“works.”
In the church (which
is shameful) and in
society (which is
expected) there is a
total lack of truth
about salvation
(being born again,
becoming a
Christian).
I have purposely not
given any examples
or provided any
names of popular
people who have
passed away and
would clearly fit
the subject matter
of this article.
There is no need for
that, but if you’re
in tune with the
true meaning and
method of salvation,
I’m sure you also
can come up with
plenty.
So what is the
bottom line? If you
are a Christian, and
your loved one or
friend claims to be
a Christian, but
shows no sign of
Jesus living in
their life, witness
to them. They are
either both lost and
bound for hell when
they die, or they
are out of
fellowship with God
and need to get
their act together
with the Father. God
knows. We often
don’t. Either way,
they need a mature
Christian leading
them to Jesus.
What about those
popular people who
are immediately
known when the
television is turned
on? We can pray that
someone in their
circle of family and
friends can reach
them for Christ,
giving them the
truth. We can also
pray for them
ourselves.
Grant Phillips
grantphillips@windstream.net
My articles are
posted at
“Pre-Rapture
Commentary”
http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
and many are also
posted at “Rapture
Ready”
http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html.
