1 Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory?
There is an old hymn that goes, "When we all get to
heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be." This line fills our hearts
with hope and longing for the day we will meet our Maker and reunite with our
beloved family members who have gone ahead of us. Today, we shall remember and
honour our late family members with love and respect.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 116:15 that, "Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." This verse
comforts us, reminding us that our loved ones who have departed this life are
in the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father. They are not lost to us, but are
instead found in Christ, waiting for the day when we will all rejoice together
in His presence.
Losing a family member is always difficult. We carry in our
hearts the weight of their absence. We miss their laughter, their wisdom, and
their unique way of making the world a little brighter. Yet, we should not grieve
as those who have no hope. In Thessalonians 4:13-14, Paul encourages us,
saying, "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those
who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For
since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God
will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
We are reassured that we do not lose our dear ones in the
abyss of nothingness, but that they are in the glorious presence of our Lord
and Saviour. We can take heart in knowing that they are experiencing His divine
peace and everlasting joy. Our task is to honour their memory by living lives
that glorify God. Let us remember their teachings, their love for God, and
their commitment to serving others. Let us follow their example and strive to
be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us.
In all this, we remember God is our comforter. In these
moments of remembering our late family members, He is close to the
broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). He is
our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Let us
draw near to Him, for He promises to draw near to us (James 4:8).
As we remember our late family members, let us also remember
the promise of eternal life in Christ. His resurrection guarantees us that
death does not have the last word, but is the gateway to everlasting life. So,
dear brothers and sisters, let us remember our loved ones with love, respect,
and joy. Let us honour their memory. And let us live each day with the hope of
eternity in our hearts, knowing that we will indeed see them again, and
together, we will rejoice in the presence of our Heavenly Father.