Blessed Are Those Who Die in the Lord

"Congratulations! You have found the way to eternal life." This was the greeting from an elderly brother I encountered when I first began to seek the truth at the True Jesus Church. At that time, my response was, "I don't want to live forever; this life is already tiring enough. Won't eternal life be exhausting too?" The elderly brother did not get angry; he simply walked away without saying anything more. My perspective was rooted in earthly concerns, while his vision was anchored in the spiritual realm.

As time went on, I attended Bible study classes and Sabbath services. I regularly saw this old brother and his wife, and I grew accustomed to seeing them walk together. However, one day I learned that he had become seriously ill, and suddenly, his familiar presence was absent from the church. Even when his condition improved slightly, he still insisted on attending services. Although he appeared more tired and thinner, he remained calm and optimistic.

A few months later, this old brother rested in the Lord's arms. That was my first experience attending a memorial service for a believer, and the feeling was profoundly different from that of a non-believer's farewell. It was challenging to put this feeling into words. During the memorial service, the elderly brother's wife turned around to comfort the fellow believers in attendance. What strength sustained her and made her so resilient? Later, she shared an experience that brought her significant comfort during a Bible study. She explained that after her husband passed away, his friends received an email from his account containing Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."

At that moment, I finally understood the distinction between the atmosphere of a believer's funeral and that of a non-believer's funeral—one is a farewell while the other feels like a permanent goodbye. Those resting in the Lord are freed from the labors and suffering of this world. While their earthly lives may have ended, they enter the kingdom of God, a beautiful home free of sickness and pain. This marks the beginning of eternal life and reassures us that our separation is only temporary; we will reunite with them in God's kingdom in the future.

In April 2024, my father's passing allowed me to experience the pain of losing a loved one firsthand, and I gained a deeper appreciation for how difficult it was for that sister and what supported her strength. I am grateful to God that my father was baptized into the Lord in August 2023, even while he was sick, and felt the Lord's grace surrounding him continually. I had hoped that in March 2024, my father's critical illness could be reversed once more. I prayed fervently for God to save him from danger and relief from his suffering, but ultimately, I could not keep him here.

While I realize my father is no longer burdened by illness and is now with God, I carry lingering regrets that weigh heavily on my heart. One of my deepest struggles is knowing that my father had not yet received the Holy Spirit; can he still enter the kingdom of God? I couldn't help but sigh during my prayers over this concern.

Then, in the early hours of December 9, 2024—a day I will never forget—I dreamed of my father! I asked him how he was doing, and he replied, "I'm fine." I then inquired, "Have you asked God for the Holy Spirit?" My father said, "As soon as I asked God for it, He gave it to me immediately." I woke up comforted by this response.

When I reflect on God's arrangements, I see that they were indeed the best. After his baptism, my father read the Bible as much as he could and frequently asked questions. The last two months of his illness were significant, as he relied on God more than ever. Despite the pain he endured, he remained committed to prayer. The word "thud" has stayed fresh in my mind. I believe the Holy Spirit carries a strength that encompasses our Bible reading, prayers, the work we do for God, and the changes we make in our lives. Most importantly, it represents our faith, reliance on God, and obedience to Him.

Revisiting Revelation 14:13, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them," gives this passage even more depth. It serves as a comforting message for both the departed and their families. Faith in God and reliance on Him is a source of strength and power. This is God's promise, offering us a glimpse of eternal spiritual life and a future reunion.