Daniel 12:1-3
[1] “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge
of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been
since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be
delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. [2] And many
of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. [3] And those who are wise
shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to
righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
“Your
people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the
book” (Dan 12:1). The resurrection is our hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds
believers of the resurrection so that, “you may not grieve as others do who
have no hope.” It does not say that we do not grieve. Many have taken it to
mean that, and as a result they have failed to grieve in a healthy manner.
Believers grieve, as do unbelievers. Grieving is about coming to grips with
loss. It is adjusting to life without someone we love. They are no longer there
to call when we need a friendly voice. They are no longer there to bring life
and conversation to the table. They are no longer there to share a beautiful
view, or a deep joy. Their death is a deep loss, and so we grieve.
But
our grief is not like that of unbelievers. We have hope. The resurrection
assures us that our believing loved ones will be raised. They “shall be delivered”
(Dan 1:1). At the resurrection there will be a mighty reunion. Death not only
failed to hold Jesus, but it will fail to hold all believers. We have been
raised to life, and we will be raised to life. In the resurrection is hope. In
our grief we know that the loss is temporary.
As I have gotten older, it seems that I am surrounded by death. My list of widows and widowers for whom I pray seems to get longer by the week. I have friends and acquaintances that are nearing the end of their life. I have loved ones that I have lost. Each individual leaves a great hole in our lives, and an emptiness that we must learn to adjust to. But as believers, the loss is temporary. The emptiness will one day be filled. Heaven is not only a joyous time of meeting our Lord face to face, it is also a joyous reunion as we reconnect with family and old friends. This is the assurance of the resurrection. “At that time your people shall be delivered” (Dan 12:1). Ephesians 5:16 reminds us that the days are evil, but Daniel 12 and 1 Thessalonians 4 give us hope. Let us not lose sight of the truth of the resurrection.
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