“On death and legacy” – Seeds of Faith – February 1, 2021

One of the most dreaded when you acquire COVID-19 is on dying. Although the survival rate is more than 90 percent, the percentage of dying if you co-morbidities is high. What is is worst is that you die alone, and then your body is cremated; leaving your loved ones a grieving process that cannot be fully described.
What does the Bible say about the death of Christians?
First, the Bible assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
In Romans 8:38, Paul explains that neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. So, as Christians, we need to hold on with the love of God.
Second, the Bible states that when Christians die, they are with the Lord.
Jesus assured Nicodemus in their conversation in John 3 that those who believe in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. In the same manner, the criminal who was beside Jesus in the cross was given also an assurance that on that very day, he will be with God in paradise.
Paul also said in Romans 14 that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Third, the Bible tells us that even though we die, our legacy lives on.
Hebrews 11:4 speaks about the legacy of Abel. The verse says, “…And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”
This tells us that when we die, our legacy will continue with those whom we have poured our lives on. Let us remember that the Bible characters have long been dead but the lessons that they teach us continue to change lives. So, let us live our lives with the intention of passing on our faith to others.
Yes, we grieve when someone dies but we are also assured that those who are in Jesus will continue to live on.
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications
Central Philippine University