2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
When a fellow Christian dies naturally or is killed, the loss can be very painful for his or her loved ones who are still on earth.
One thing we should remember, however, is true Christians who face death are not sad about where they are going and neither is God.
The verse above compares our earthly bodies to living in a tent, and it compares heaven to living in a house. If you think about a tent, it is very flimsy and intended only for temporary use. A house however is very secure and can be lived in for an entire lifetime.
As Christians, we need to remember that earth is not our permanent home—we are only passing through for a short time in order to accomplish God’s will while we are here.
When we look at the life of Jesus, His earthly ministry was very short, and He was killed at a fairly young age. While it was a painful loss for His followers, Jesus came to accomplish one mission (salvation for mankind), and through his death and resurrection, that mission was accomplished.
Once our purpose on earth is fulfilled, God can take us back to himself at any time. That is something only God decides, and none of us know the day or the hour (Ecclesiastes 8:8).
Loss can be painful, but let’s remember that even as we see our loved ones pass or Christians around the world being martyred—death is not something Christians need to be afraid of.
As long as we are living in the will of God, we will continue to live eternally with Jesus even after our earthly lives are ended. For this reason, we should do our best to please God daily and repent of our sins as tomorrow isn’t promised.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NIV
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
John 11:25 NIV
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
