'Reigning in Life' Question One
23 Mar 2010
Question: It’s great that as Christians we can be assured of our future, but what do we say to those who have lost loved ones that don’t know Christ? And to comments like 'they're in a better place now'?
Answer: This is an important question! Ultimately only God knows whether or not someone is saved. It would be wrong of us to conclude that an individual definitely wasn't a Christian; it remains quite possible that God may have encountered this person during their dying moments.
However, I would want to explore (sensitively - i.e. let's not get too intense if we're only a few days or weeks into the grieving period) why the grieving person believes the one they have just lost is in a 'better place now' and where is that place? I'd want to ask them such questions as; 'do you think you'll go there (wherever there might be) when you die? If so, where do you derive your confidence for such a hope? Is it your own morality and righteousness or is your hope in Christ and His righteousness?
Talking about death is never easy, particularly in our western context, it really is a taboo subject. However for the Christian, death presents us with an opportunity to talk about our Saviour, His death and resurrection. For those whose faith is in Him, 'death has lost its sting'. Therefore, there is genuine/robust hope beyond the grave; death couldn't hold Him and so for all who are 'In Christ' death cannot hold you either.
Tim Blaber: Reigning in Life from the Romans Series
Tim
 
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