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‘ve written before about untimely deaths. But I want to take another approach about how Christians should process the death of loved ones.
First, the loved one themselves can aid their family by living a life glorifying unto God. THIS will be the greatest comfort for the family that continues on in this life once a family member passed into glory. I’ve seen family’s comforted because they knew their loved one was indeed in heaven. Not of the sentimental kind mind you, but knowing their loved one was a believer in Christ.
Second, Christians must settle NOW… before it happens… a Biblical understanding about death. This includes having a good understanding that…
God is glad they are finally home… with Him… in His presence (Ps 116:15).
At the moment of death, God sends at least two angels to escort them into His presence (Lk 16:22).
Christians are with Jesus, which is the very definition of what heaven is (Lk 23:43).
All tears, pain, and sorrow are wiped away (Rev 21:1-5).
Because of these things and millions more, they are much better off (Phil 1:21).
So in reality, when a Christian dies it is a time for celebration… IF we believe God. Note I didn’t say we shouldn’t mourn or grieve, but a Christian’s mourning and grief is different. Consider in closing what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18…
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. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.