There will be no more death.
“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
The Bible Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart.” As this word says, we all have no choice but to die. Therefore, we must keep this fact in mind while we are alive and seriously consider how we are going to live the rest of our lives.
The late Grandma Bun-nam Choi experienced the deaths of four of his beloved family members while she was still alive. Not only did the death of his beloved husband, but also three of his six children passed away first. I still remember vividly that her crying when she found out that her son, who was living with her passed away in the living room a few years ago. After that, when she came to church on Sundays, she often cried. How heartbreaking and sad.... So, when I think of the late Grandma Bun-nam Choi, Revelation 21:4 comes to mind: “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” One day, I visited the apartment where Grandma Choi lived, and we sat at the table and talked. At that time, Grandma Choi, who was suffering from physical pain, had no appetite and was not able to eat well. Then I told him about the kingdom of heaven that is spoken of in Revelation 21:4: 'Grandma, when you go to heaven, there will be no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no more death. Grandma, do you want to go to heaven?’ At that time, Grandma Choi listened to me and said, ‘I want to go to heaven.’ After hearing that answer, I asked her the most important question again: 'Grandma, do you believe in Jesus?' At that time, she answered, 'I believe.'
This Monday, at 9 am, at St. Vincent Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Grandma Choi’s family members and a few church members gathered and we had final worship before her death. Grandma Choi, who had not been able to open her eyes until the previous day, opened her eyes and recognized us during the worship that day. I was very grateful. After the service, I said to Grandma Choi “I love you” in Korean. Even though it must have been very difficult for her at the time, she nodded her head to me. Although I found out later, my wife was also talking with Grandma Choi and probably asked her, 'Grandmother, do you want to go to heaven?' and she nodded her head, saying ‘I want to go to heaven.’
Although Grandma Choi lived in this earth for over 80 years, the late Grandma Choi suffered a lot of pain and shed a lot of sorrow and tears when she met the death of her beloved husband and three children. But now she is free from all of them. Now, the late Grandma Bun-nam Choi no longer has to suffer pain, sorrow, and tears in the kingdom of heaven that she always wanted to go to. The Lord wiped away all her tears from her eyes. Now, Grandma Choi will live forever in heaven with the Lord. Now, she will no longer have to suffer the death of loved ones again. In addition, Grandma Choi will never have to suffer her own death again. Although her body will be cremated after this service, I believe that Grandma Choi's soul is already in heaven. On the day Jesus comes back to this earth, when the last trumpet is sounded all over the world (1 Cor. 15:51), the soul and body of Grandma Choi will unite and she will receive a sudden transformation. Her perishable body will be clothed with the imperishable, and her mortal body with immorality (v. 53). She will be put on a glorious body. Therefore we will not grieve like the rest of people who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again (v. 14), then the dead in Christ will rise first (v. 16) when Jesus returns from heaven to this earth. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (v. 17). So we will be with the Lord forever in heaven (v. 17). With this hope, I hope and pray that the bereaved family members and all of us who are gathered here will advance toward the kingdom of heaven by believing in Jesus.
- I'm pressing on the upward way, New heights I'm gaining ev-'ry day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound, "Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
- My heat has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho' some may dwell where these abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
- I want to live above the world, Tho' Sa-tan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground.
- I want to scale the utmost height, And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till heaven I've found, "Lord, lead me on to higher ground."
- My Lord I'll follow, till I stand Erect upon that lofty land;
And, blest forever, sing His grace, Who led and set me in this place.
[Chorus]
Lord, lift me up and let me stand By faith on Heaven's tableland,
A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
<Hymn “I’m Pressing on the Upward Way”]
Looking at God who values the death of His saints (Ps. 116:15),
James Kim