The pain of death

 

Over the past few weeks, two of my good friends have died, writes Bert Cargill of St Monans Gospel Hall, men in the same age group as myself, so it was sad to see them go. I’m sure that you will have had this experience too at some point. Many years of friendship and common interests had given us great opportunities to share and care in church-based events and everyday ones. That is finished now, but we have the great prospect of a reunion in heaven one day, a place where there is no death, no sorrow, no pain, no loss. As it says in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

In an uncertain world where lives can be cut short at any time, it is so very important to be sure of a future home in heaven. You can find that assurance through personal faith in Jesus Christ, just as my friends did early in their lives, proving how real the promise of peace with God is for everyone who believes. Romans 5:1 states, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Heaven is a real place, and so is hell. Jesus came from heaven to tell us how to get to heaven and be saved from hell. He made this possible for us by dying on the cross for our sins. As John 14:2-3 assures us, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” He loved us so much that He took on Himself the penalty for sin, so that we could be forgiven and accepted by a holy God, as noted in 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

None of us deserves to be in heaven, and our own efforts would never be good enough to earn salvation. But here is the good news of the gospel - you can receive what you don’t deserve. You cannot work for it. By repenting, accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and trusting in His sacrifice for you, you can be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” None of us deserves to be in heaven, and our own efforts would never be good enough to earn salvation. But we can be sure of heaven today through faith in the Son of God.