The emotions of sorrow and lamentation are not Christian tributes at the death of a faithful loved one, simply because the informed Christian knows that death is in reality a "victory" (John 16:33; Romans 8:35-39; cf. Revelation 15:1-2).
A Muslim once stated to a Christian missionary, “We have proof in our religion that you do not have. When we go to Arabia, we find the tomb of the prophet so that we have proof that he lived. When you go to Jerusalem, you cannot be sure that you have the burial placed place of Jesus for you have no tomb as we have.” “That is indeed true,” replied the missionary. “We have no tomb in our religion, but we do not need one because we have no corpse. Our faith is not in a corpse but in the One who is a Conqueror of death and who brings life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
When we look at death throughout the pages of the Bible, we are brought to realize that death is in essence God’s beautiful sunset brought about by an influential godly life lived here on earth (Psalm 116:15; cf. Revelation 14:12-13). As faithful children of God, there is no question that our departure from the trials and tribulations of this life can indeed be a beautiful sunset of praise, triumph and rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13; Revelation 7:9-17).
There is a beautiful hymn we sometimes sing that contain the following beginning lyric: “Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me…..” (see video).
Truly, the sunset that we will experience when we pass from this life, will bring to us a beautiful view of immortality.
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
A Muslim once stated to a Christian missionary, “We have proof in our religion that you do not have. When we go to Arabia, we find the tomb of the prophet so that we have proof that he lived. When you go to Jerusalem, you cannot be sure that you have the burial placed place of Jesus for you have no tomb as we have.” “That is indeed true,” replied the missionary. “We have no tomb in our religion, but we do not need one because we have no corpse. Our faith is not in a corpse but in the One who is a Conqueror of death and who brings life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
When we look at death throughout the pages of the Bible, we are brought to realize that death is in essence God’s beautiful sunset brought about by an influential godly life lived here on earth (Psalm 116:15; cf. Revelation 14:12-13). As faithful children of God, there is no question that our departure from the trials and tribulations of this life can indeed be a beautiful sunset of praise, triumph and rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13; Revelation 7:9-17).There is a beautiful hymn we sometimes sing that contain the following beginning lyric: “Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me…..” (see video).
Truly, the sunset that we will experience when we pass from this life, will bring to us a beautiful view of immortality.
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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