Remember Art Linkletter’s show, “Kids Say The Darnest Things”? Well, they really do. Fact is, kids ask some of the best questions. They are not afraid to ask about animals in heaven, etc. Something else you need to remember is that kids are not as dumb as you think. They understand much more than we realize. Here’s an example:

When the cat was run over by a car, the mother quickly disposed of the
remains before her four-year-old son Billy found out about it.

After a few days, Billy finally asked about the cat.

“Billy, the cat died,” his mother explained. “But it’s all right. He’s up in
heaven with God.”

The boy asked,” What in the world would God want with a dead cat?”

That’s a good question. And the fact of the matter is, sometimes we need to have a frank discussion about death. That’s something a lot of people don’t want to do. They detest any talk about death. If they are unsaved I can understand that, but Christians should view it differently. Paul even desired death. He said, “to die is gain”(Phil. 1:21) and that he had “a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”(Phil.1:23). What about you? How do you feel about death? Do you suppose Paul knew what he was talking about? Remember–he had been there!

Maybe it would help you if you thought about death as the funeral of all your dreads and the fulfillment of all dreams. For the Christian that’s exactly what it is. Death for the child of God is a —
—remedy for all their problems
—relief from all their troubles
—rest from all their labor
—reward for all their service
—reunion with all the saints
—resurrection from the prison of the flesh into the glory that awaits
—revelation of Christ and all He has prepared for those who love Him

So, you see, death isn’t really an unpleasant subject at all–not for the people of God. But that’s the key–are you a child of God? Have you been born again? Have you received Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, think of death as the funeral of all your suffering and sorrow. It really is! You will close you eyes here and wake up in glory, in the very presence of God. You can’t complain about that!

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.–Philippians 1:21

For more than half a century I’ve seen loved ones make their exit from earth into eternity. There have been good friends and best friends, patents and grand-parents, preachers and teachers, young and old, classmates and co-workers, neighbors and some I hardly even knew. I’ve seen some die of old age and some suddenly snatched away at a young age. I’ve seen people die of dreadful diseases that racked their body with pain for years and others who lost their life quickly in what we call an “accident”. I have wept many tears as a result of a loved one dying— but I’ve never felt a bit of sorrow for those who made their move from earth to heaven. How could I? For them the best has come!

However, I have been deeply grieved for those left behind. How can you not sorrow over a grieving mother whose child has been ripped out of her arms by death, or someone who is now separated from their spouse of many years, or a child who has lost a parent, or the parents who just received the news that their son was killed in combat? It is natural for us to grieve for those who have suffered the loss of those most precious to their soul. How could we not entertain such feelings? We are in a bad condition if we don’t.

Those who are wise view things from the proper perspective. They know that while death brings loss to some it brings gain to others. For some it spells pain, for others pleasure. We have no reason nor right to feel sorry for those who have left the poverty of earth to enter into their inheritance in heaven. They are freed from the bondage of the flesh, saved from suffering of every sort, delivered from every difficulty known to man, reunited with dear loved ones gone on before, and in the very presence of God Almighty. Their glorious experience is beyond anything we can imagine.

Feel sorry of them? No indeed! We are the ones to be pitied. But let’s not take that too far. If we know Christ as our Savior we need to focus on our blessings rather than our burdens. We, who don’t deserve anything, have everything in Christ. I’m not denying the difficulties of life–that would be foolish. We do have difficulties (Job 14:1), but even the pain of losing a loved one should be tempered with the knowledge that their parting brought them pleasure. A pleasure that we too shall have when our turn comes to leave this sinful old world. So, if we don’t enjoy life it’s our own fault. If God never did anything but save us we would have no reason to complain. Even death can be delightful.

With Memorial Day upon us, many are thinking of death and heaven. Searching through my files, I came across these words from an unknown author that should bring comfort to God’s children:

“The voice of weeping shall be no more heard.”
Isaiah 65:19

The glorified weep no more, for all outward
causes of grief are gone. There are no broken
friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven.

Poverty, famine, peril, persecution,
and slander, are unknown there.
No pain distresses, no thought of
death or bereavement saddens.

They weep no more, for they are perfectly
sanctified. No “evil heart of unbelief” prompts
them to depart from the living God; they are
without fault before his throne, and are fully
conformed to his image.

Well may they cease to mourn
who have ceased to sin.

They weep no more, because all fear of change
is past. They know that they are eternally secure.

Sin is shut out, and they are shut in!

They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed.
They bask in a sun which shall never set.
They drink of a river which shall never dry.
They pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither.

Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall
not be exhausted, and while eternity endures,
their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it.
They are forever with the Lord!

They weep no more, because every desire
is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything
which they have not in possession.

Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination,
hope, desire, will- all the faculties are completely
satisfied. And imperfect as our present ideas are
of the things which God has prepared for those that
love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of
the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed.

The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fulness of delight,
is in them. They bathe themselves in the bottomless,
shoreless sea of infinite happiness!

That same joyful rest remains for us.
It may not be far distant.

Before long the weeping-willow shall be exchanged
for the palm-branch of victory, and sorrow’s dewdrops
will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss!

“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thes. 4:18

In this day when most people are more concerned about self than they are about others, Joe Gibbs offers an interesting perspective on how we ought to relate to others. He writes:

The Bible says to “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). Which means what exactly?

We understand the part about not storing up “treasures on earth” (verse 19). We get it that we can’t take our stuff with us into eternity. We never see a hearse pulling a moving van. We know that. But “treasures in heaven.” What are those? And how do they become part of our life’s purpose?

Every person you know or meet is an eternal being. Some, by God’s grace and their faith in his son, Jesus Christ, will live with him forever. Some won’t. But because each of us has an eternal soul, one way to store up “treasures in heaven” is by investing your life in other people—in your wife, your children, your work associates and employees, your neighbors, your friends, even people who cross your path in seemingly random fashion. We’re not to regard them anymore “from a worldly point of view,”—. We’re to see them as a teller window for depositing our time, our attention, our concern, even just a kind “hello” made with deliberate eye contact.

Not every heavenly investment is transacted at church or in some other so-called spiritual setting. Just about anywhere you go, there’s a branch near you.—

God, help me to spend more time noticing the people around me and their needs—and less time focused on simply knocking out agenda items and daily objectives. I want my treasures in heaven, not here.

Ever since sin entered into the world man has been corrupt and confused. Some claim that we can’t know anything for certain. That is sad and senseless! We can live with certainty. We can be sure about all of the most important things in life. This is the subject addressed by Henry M. Morris in this article:

“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

Most things in this life are uncertain; nevertheless, there are some things about which we can be absolutely sure. Just as God warned Adam that if he disobeyed His Word, he would “surely die” (Genesis 2:17), so He warns us that we can be sure our sins will ultimately be exposed. “The foundation of God standeth sure” (2 Timothy 2:19).

On the other side of the coin, we can also be sure of God’s mercy and faithfulness, and we can be sure of the truth of His Word. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Peter 1:19). We also can be sure of His promised salvation. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19). Thus we can, through faith and patience, show “the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:11).

Finally, we can be sure that our Lord Jesus, who came once to die for our sins, will come back again to complete His work of redemption and reconciliation. The very last promise of the Bible consists of His gracious words: “Surely I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20).

However, each of us must first make sure that we believe His sure Word and have appropriated this sure hope. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11). We can be sure that our sins must be judged, but we also can be sure of His forgiveness, if we believe His sure promises and receive His sure salvation.