"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4-18 (NKJV) These are my own thoughts regarding my own experience and belief regarding the passing of someone that I love very deeply. I use the current tense because I believe that our God created us to be...
"For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." Romans 14:11-12 (NKJV) The Apostle Paul spoke truthfully and for those of us who believe God, there's no question that we'll stand before Him to answer for the lives that we've lived here. For those who don't believe and scoff at the idea that they'll be called to account before the God who created everything - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their inheritance will be the terror of fools who have chosen their own lot of horror for eternity. We can contend for them while they live momentarily, but when their flesh passes, so will their opportunity to change course. Repentance and acceptance of Christ now is their only hope. For those of us who claim to follow Christ and believe God, the rubber of reality hits the road of truth when we begin to force ourselves to consider factually...