Few days back, I was invited by a family friend to share the Word of God on the first death anniversary of his father. God enabled me to mediate on the topic – What do we “Gain” in death? Today 26th February, I am remembering my father on His 29th death anniversary. As I am filled with loving memories of my dad, I just thought to write a blog on this topic – “What do we Gain in death”
Death brings sorrow, it brings pain, it brings separation, it brings distress & death hurts. But death is not the end. In fact, the bible teaches us that there is a beautiful side to death.
Apostle Paul in his letter to Philippians writes
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”
Philippians 1:21
Gain means acquiring something, it means increase of something, and it means taking possession of something. By death do we acquire something, increase something, take possession of something?
Let’s turn to the book of Revelation 7:9-17, Apostle John depicts the picture of Heaven where a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language were standing before God. We understand these people were people who lived their lives in Christ. I would like to focus more on verse 17, which reads
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
Revelation 7:9-17
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
We see the Lamb; it’s not a lamb it’s “the Lamb”. The Lamb is their “Shepherd” who will lead them to “springs of living water”. There are 3 main references here – the Lamb, the Shepherd & the springs of living water.
The gain from death by this great multitude is from these three. It is my faith, this great multitude includes my father and many other dear ones who I miss on earth. It is my faith that on the day the Lord has predestined, I will join this great multitude. The word of God says this great multitude is gaining from death. That’s the beautiful side of death. Now let’s see What they gain.
1) They Gain a Perfect Life through the Lamb
We read in Revelation 7:16
‘Never again will they hunger;
Revelation 7:16
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
This tells us that in death one leaves the imperfect life on earth to the perfect life in heaven. Yes, the first gain in death is a “perfect Life” that is eternal. It transcends the imperfect life on earth. This Perfect Life is gained through the Lamb, through the Faith we place on the Lamb, the Lamb who took away the sin of the world, the Lamb who graciously came down from heaven and died on the cross for us, the Lamb who rose and has ascended into heaven in all Glory, the Lamb who has promised the same righteousness, resurrection, life & Glory to me & you.
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
John 1:29
John 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Once we start realizing our imperfections, we understand the need for a savior. We understand that we are sinners. Sin just means “missing the mark”. We do miss the mark as Father/Mother, Son/Daughter, brother/sister, friend/neighbor & employee/employer. We can be a better Father or Mother, Son or daughter, brother or sister, friend or acquaintance, employee, employer, student etc. We try to better ourselves every day, we change our imperfections to perfections every day. As we reduce the imperfections we move closer to the perfection. The mark we miss, the gap we need to fill to be perfect is filled by “the Lamb” and at death we win over all the imperfections and enter the “perfect life” through “the Lamb”
Our life’s are made Perfect by the Grace of God, Only with his help we can correct our imperfections. In death we gain a Perfect Life, through the Lamb
2) They Gain a Perfect Home through the Good Shepherd
The beautiful side of death is that, it will transfer us from this evil world to a perfect home of true life and happiness.
It is by following the Good Shepherd we gain access to this Perfect Home. When we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Place we are becomes better. John chapter 10, tell us that Jesus the Good Shepherd
- Knows us: Calls by name and leads them out (V3)
- Leads us: Goes ahead of his Sheep and they follow (V4)
- Protects us: Gate for the sheep (V7)
- Saves us: Whoever enters through me will be saved (V9)
- Sacrifices for us: Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (V11)
When we follow Him our home gets better in this earth too. We make our families happy, our extended families happy, our friends happy, our colleagues at work happy . As we make our earthly home & place around us better by following Jesus the good Shepherd, we get closer to the perfect Home, the heaven.
We are called to make the place around us Perfect with the Help of the Good Shepherd, Are we following the example of Christ?
3) They Gain a Perfect Nature through springs of Living Water
Lastly, we gain a perfect Nature in death. Our physical body deteriorates, sometimes our attitudes are unacceptable. This nature of ours transforms like the Glory of God. The bible says we will be clothed with the righteousness of Christ Himself, we will have Glorified body like Christ Himself. That’s the perfect Nature we get in death.
Bible talks about the gift of Holy Spirit which will transform our nature.
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.
John 7:37-39
The gift of Holy Spirit will help us take the right decisions and will help us overcome this imperfections in this worldly life. It transforms us.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
Romans 12:1
As we transform by doing the God’s will, we get closer to the perfect Nature. The nature that is glorified like Christ, the perfect nature that’s Christ-like.
Conclusion
Our Journey to a Perfect Life, a Perfect Home & a Perfect Nature begins when Christ comes in our life. We live out our lives for Christ to be as perfect as possible. It’s in the death this perfection is complete by the entry into the Perfect Home, with an eternal Perfect life in a Glorified Christ like Body giving us a Perfect Nature.
My Dad has entered this perfection, the loved ones I miss in this earthly life too have entered this perfection. This brings great Joy to me. It gives immense Hope, It strengths my Faith. It provides endurance. The question I want to ask you is? Have you sealed this Perfect Gift from God, the Salvation from Christ? If Yes, are You in this journey of Perfectness?
Let’s pursue Christ-likeness. Amen.
At that time which standard u r studying
10th Std
Very consoling.