He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more…” vss. 3b-4
Revelation 21: 3-6a
Many people wonder about their loved ones when death occurs, and questions abound. We would love to have concrete answers but the best we can do is speculate. Some are comforted by accounts reported by folks who have “died” and come back to life. They like the image of a peaceful ending followed by a journey toward the light, and that is indeed a fine way to think of death. Others prefer the vision put forward by the writer of Revelation, a future filled with the presence of our loving God in which every tear will be wiped away, and there will be no more mourning or crying or pain. It’s wonderful for us to be able to think of life after death in these ways, particularly at a time of the year when we are remembering the saints who have been among us spreading love and kindness, who are now absent from our family gatherings and celebrations. The one common element in all of these pictures of the future is that death never has the last word for us. Believers know, following Paul’s teachings, that there is nothing in all creation, not even death, that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. That’s probably the best news that any of us could possibly receive!
Thought for the Day: What’s my favorite image of life after death?
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