It is always hard when our loved ones pass away. We can comfort each other, knowing that they are with Jesus. This is wonderful! We could hope for nothing more. However, we often comfort each other with fallacies as well. For example, the idea that our loved ones are watching us from Heaven sounds wonderful, but it’s not biblical. “For you are our Father,” says Isaiah 63:16, “though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us.” Abraham and Israel (Jacob) are in Heaven, but they do not know us. They are not watching over us, as far as we can tell.
Only one of our loved ones has love that truly extends beyond death. Only one of our loved ones can know us, think of us, and help us beyond their death. This loved one is Jesus. He knew us, thought of us, and helped us while he was alive – and he also knew us, thought of us, and helped us while he was dead. Jesus died on the cross because of us, and he rose from the dead because of us. Everything he did, no matter what physical state he was in, was because he loved us eternally.
This gives new meaning to the opening four verses of Psalm 118. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’” The steadfast love of Jesus truly endures forever, and we should all be saying it. We should be repeating this incredible fact over and over, for it is a miracle beyond our comprehension!