Hebrews 13.14 (ESV) says, "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." I'll be going to a funeral of a very elderly relative in the upcoming week. What is our response to the fact that people die? We do, of course, confess that death is a bad thing. It's the wrenching apart of body and soul, and is the result of sin. Yet we also confess that after death the soul is restored to a body in the bodily resurrection, both the resurrection to heavenly bliss and the resurrection of damnation. In each case there is a bodily resurrection and the body and soul will be reunited. But earthly life is over. Death, in fact, is a reminder of the fact that this earthly life is in no way all there is. It is a reminder that we do not have a lasting city here. So how do we respond when someone dies? Of course we are sad. We are sorry for the fact that that person will not be there for loved ones. Hopefully we look back on the person's life fondly. We remember the fact that earthly death is the result of Adam's sin and the curse which he brought on the world. We realize we also are subject to the curse. We look to the facts of Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection on our behalf, and we look in faith, believing that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We look to an eternal home. And if we are looking to an eternal home through eyes of faith in Jesus' work on our behalf, we look to a blessed eternity.
This earthly life is not all there is. Let us look forward by faith in Christ to a resurrection of blessing.
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