Can Death Bring Joy?

A very dear sister-in-Christ I have the pleasure of knowing lost her own recently to cancer.  This woman was a fighter, lasting way longer than the doctors had anticipated.  The end finally came, and unfortunately there was no peace in her final moments.  She had professed Christ, lived a 'godly' life, but over the years made it clear she didn't want to talk theology with my friend.  Such sadness and regret surrounded this loss, and what inner turmoil my Born-again Sister is struggling with because of the way her kin passed away!

Death is rude

This even got me thinking about the difference between death of a person who doesn't believe in God, and those who belong to Him.  I am not suggesting everyone who believes in God will be going to Heaven.  No.  Satan believes in God.  Balaam believed, spoke with God, but he was certainly not converted.  Jezebel was a high priestess but worshiped God to further her own agenda.  Simeon the magician believed and desired to follow Christ, but wanted to buy the power given by the Holy Spirit.  Nicolas believed in Christ Jesus but denied His absolute power, leading many people astray.

I'm talking about the difference between an unregenerate heart, and a repentant one.  ^{Jeremiah 8:6}

Can a loss of a human life cause those who are left behind joy?

I say absolutely!

Why do I believe this?  Because death is a triumphant victory for those who fear God.  ^{Ephesians 2:5}  Death is our escape from the grime, pain and decay of this world, where Satan sits on the throne.  Death was Jesus Christ's greatest victory because through His life and sacrifice it no longer has a hold on His people.  ^{Colossians 2:13} The death of a broken body isn't a major deal.  It's the death of the spirit, spending eternity in Hell completely cut off from God The Father that is the unimaginable curse.  That is why the world fears it.    In truth, spiritually speaking, we are all born dead already.  Since Adam and Eve listened to the serpent,  all of humanity is now burdened with separation from God.  His holiness can not bear our filth.  His purity surpasses anything we consider clean.  His judgement, white hot wrath in regards to sin is needed, necessary.  You thought the flood was bad?  Oh no.  That was nothing.  That was barely a taste of God's hate of sin.  Only those who die and end up in Hell will experience this wrath.  Make no mistake, Hell is not a place the rules just get 'broken'.  It is far worse than any imaginable place, because all we can dream of still has God's hand on it here on earth.  God is here.  God is not THERE.  If you fear this place, as you should, then I suggest you change your life and seek out a local body of Christ and humble yourself under the Word of God.  If you don't know where to begin, cry out to God, He will provide for you.  Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and LIFE.
Growth takes time.  It takes faith.  The Lord knows your heart and your motives.  If you think you are a good person I suggest you run as fast as you can to the cross and fall on your face.  There are no good people.  Not even one.  ^{Romans 3:12, Psalm 53:3, Micah 7:2}  I am not typing this to make you feel bad, to put you down, to make myself look like a better, wiser, more chaste person.  Mother Teresa was the picture of 'human perfection', and yet I doubt she knew Jesus.  By God's unfathomable mercy I have been redeemed, forgiven, restored back to a relationship with my Creator through Christ Jesus, and even though I am still wretched, gross, a worm, He is continually molding and shaping and making me more like His Son, a light shining for others to see their need for forgiveness.  I won't ever be finished on this earth.  My sanctification is finished spiritually, beyond the scope of time, but while I still walk this planet I need to be sanctified.  ^{2 Thessalonians 2:13}  I am not perfect.  If I ever claim to be I am lying through my teeth.  I don't have all the answers, but I am sure about what I know right now.  There is no greater love, that a man lay down his life for his friends, and no death more powerful than that of Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because He LIVES!  Death was only a formality.  Sins bondage is what we need to be freed from.  It was Christs life, lived perfectly, sinless, obedient and in harmonious relationship with God as no human before Adam ever had that brings such hope to us, his people.  Through his resurrection he broke the chains of sin and spiritual death, so that those he died for would be restored in communion with God.  What an amazing gift the Father bestowed unto The Son, who then gave it to us.


I believe with certainty that my death will bring Joy to those who know me, and understand the victory that Jesus won.  ^{Hosea 13:14}  I will join my brothers and sisters in worship of our Holy Father, King, Majesty On High!!  I will bask in the light of His Glory!  I will no longer have any remnant left of my former sin nature.  I will fully and completely be of one mind with Christ my Lord.  The part of me who hates God and recoils from His Holiness will no longer exist.

That my friends is what awaits those who trust and obey.

^{Ecclesiastes 7:2}