How Christians Respond To Death

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1 Corinthians 15:55-57 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Think

Death is never easy. Losing someone we love brings deep pain and sorrow, but for Christians, the way we respond to death is shaped by a unique hope. We grieve, yes, but we do not grieve without hope. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” Our hope is grounded in Jesus, who conquered death and promises us eternal life. For the believer, death is not the final word—it’s the doorway to being with Christ.

Around 125 A.D., a Greek named Aristeides wrote to a friend, trying to explain the extraordinary success of the new religion, Christianity. In his letter, he said, “If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they accompany his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby.” This powerful image reflects the Christian view of death—not as a final goodbye but as a transition to a new life with God. Our response to death is not one of despair but of joyful expectation, knowing that our loved ones in Christ are now in the presence of God.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, famously said, “Our people die well.” Wesley’s words capture the heart of the Christian approach to death—while the world may fear it, believers face it with peace and assurance, knowing that eternal life with Jesus is certain. For Christians, death is not a loss but a victory, a homecoming to be with the Lord forever.

As Christians, we can face death with both sadness and joy—sadness for the temporary separation from those we love, but joy in the certainty of eternal life. Today, if you’re facing the loss of a loved one or even contemplating your own mortality, remember that death doesn’t have the final say. Jesus does. We can take comfort in knowing that our lives are secure in him now and for eternity. And because of this, we can face death with courage, faith, and the hope of resurrection.

Apply

Thank God for the hope of eternal life. If you’ve lost a loved one who was a believer, ask God for comfort and peace, knowing they are with him.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for the hope we have in you. Help me to live each day with that hope in my heart, trusting in your promises. Comfort me and those I love as we face the pain of loss and remind us of the joy of reunion with you and my loved ones. In your name. Amen.