DEATH IS NOT THE END!

Death is not the end! We grieve, we sorely grieve when death like a hungry lion drags away someone we know and love. The death of a loved one brings families and friends to their knees. Death is a terrible thing. We hate death because we love life. But death is not the end!

 There is comfort and hope to be found in God’s Word, the Bible, which says, “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Romans 15:4.

 We know of the trials and tribulations Job went through. He lost all of his children, his livestock and his livelihood. But Job knew that death was not the end. He said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”

 Job knew that death was not the end because he knew that God would raise him up from the grave after he died. Job believed in the resurrection of the dead. But more than believing that dead human beings can be raised again Job believed in the One who can raise the dead. “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

 We live in an age in which some people try to explain away the idea of a human being returning from the dead. They are quick to say, “It can’t be done!” But Job believed that it could be done and that it would be done – to him. What gave Job the confidence that death is not the end? His Redeemer!

 If you redeem something you buy it back. If you pawn your watch or a gold ring or something of value to you you can redeem it. You can by it back again. Job’s Redeemer has bought him back again. Bought him back from where? From the pawn shop? No! Job’s Redeemer has redeemed him from death.

 Who is Job’s Redeemer? He’s the One whose coming was promised long, long ago in the Old Testament. Job’s Redeemer is the One whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Job’s Redeemer is the One who was crucified on a cross on Good Friday. He is the One who was dead and buried. He is the One who rose again from the dead on Easter.

 The Redeemer is the One who says, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” He is the One who says, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

 We who remain endure pain and sorrow when death our great enemy invades and upsets families, friends and even whole regiments. Those who are closest to the lost loved one suffer most.

 But death is not the end. Death is not the end of Corporal Reece Harper-Green. Yes, we will remember him. Yes, we will honour his memory. But when you know that your Redeemer lives, like a scorpion with a crushed tail, death has lost its sting. The grave has no victory!

Be comforted. Look to the Redeemer, the risen Lord Jesus Christ!

 Let us pray together in the words our Saviour gave us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come;

thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

for ever and ever. Amen