Biblical Answers to Life’s Tough Questions Series:
Why Must we Say Goodbye?
This morning, we are beginning a series entitled “Biblical Answers to Life’s Tough Questions”. Over the course of the next few weeks, I hope to provide you with biblical answers to help you understand some of life’s most challenging questions. These are things we have each struggled with. They are the things that we have each ask God before, I’m sure. They are the things we struggle to understand and fail to see the reasoning of purpose behind. What we must remember is what Solomon wrote in Eccelesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
I hope to give you a better understanding of these questions and provide you with some references to pull from the Word of God to help you navigate through these challenging moments; these difficult questions; these frustrations; these moments where you may even shake your fist at God in anger.
This morning, we start off our series with probably one of the most commonly asked questions people have. This is the one we all have struggled with, some even more than others. This is a question that often produces anger and resentment toward our Heavenly Father. This morning, we look at the question, “Why Must we Say Goodbye?”
Turn with me to Hebrews 9:27, hold that and also find 1 Thess 5:9-10.
I. Why do people have to die?
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Heb 9:27
None of us like the thought of this. It is never easy, nor is it something we want to happen. What we must realize first and foremost is that we each have an appointment to keep - some far earlier in life than others. This is a hard bite to chew on, it doesn’t seem fair - and frankly, it isn’t.
Job made the observation “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1)
We each are born into the condition of sin because of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:17-19). As a result of this sin nature we have inherited, we also receive the result of that nature in our life. 1 Cor 15:56 reminds us that “the sting of sin is death…” In other words, it is the pain that comes from the sin nature of humanity. God himself stated we would not live forever in this mortal body in Gen 6:3. He limited our number to 120 years at that time.
Why do people die? Because of the sin nature that entered into humanity.
II. What does God Do During our Sorrow?
We never face a time when we feel more alone than during the time we are mourning for the loss of someone we love. Even though we may be surrounded by people for days, weeks, even months following, we feel an emptiness - a void - completely and utterly alone.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. God makes it very clear that during these times, He is nearer to us than ever before. Why? Because He is our Father. He loves us. He hurts when we hurt. He cares about us. He wants to hold us. He UNDERSTANDS!
Psalm 34:18 reminds us of the nearness of God during these times when the Psalmist penned the words “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Jesus even stated that when we mourn, we are blessed in Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
How can this be a blessing? Because God Himself becomes our strength and comfort. We all know the verse Phil 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”), but this is exactly what Jesus was talking about.
Isa 41:10 further reminds us ““Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Paul reminds us in 2 Cor 12:9 that “...my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”
1 Pet 5:9 reminds us to ““Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
God comforts us, He cares about us, but He also understands.
I want to remind you of the time that God watched His Son die on a cross because of us! He died a horrific death He did not deserve. He died because of what WE done. He understands what it feels like to watch someone He loved, was proud of and cared for die. And knowing that He allowed this to happen because of things I done, things you done - I cannot fathom that kind of love.
This tells me that if God was willing to go through that pain of watching His very own son die for things we were guilty of, He is certainly capable and faithful at providing us comfort and care during our times of sorrow because He understands how it feels.
III. What is the end result of Death?
1 Cor 15:53-57
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The end result of death, for a child of God, is to spend eternity with Him. Death for a child of God - and this includes people who have not come to the understanding of the effects of sin upon our lives, the consequences thereof and what the end result will be, is that we are forever with God.
This is for a child of God. For those of us who have had to say goodbye to someone we love who served God, or was someone who did not understand the consequences of sin, we hold to this promise made in Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
I encourage you today, if you are struggling with this tough question, come to God with your cares and pain and just let Him hold you. Let Him strengthen you.
If you are here today and do not know this loving God and Savior - a God who was willing for His son to die - to feel that pain and sorrow - in payment for your sin, come and meet Him today. He will guide you through life’s most difficult moments, but even better than the present help He will be, you will have an eternity to be with Him and all those you love who have gone home before you.
