What I understand to be claiming God's promises of healing and the apparent paradox of death.
My take on this is this:
That the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our personal saviour, the issue of death becomes irrelevant in the whole scheme of things.
The reason for this is we become alive in Christ. Just as we believe that Christ is alive.
At this point death is an illusion, misnomer and irrelevant. I believe that this revelation prompted St Paul to say
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. "
Three verses in 1 st Corinthians 15 above show us that death (as we know it ) is an illusion to a christian.
Death is the illusion created to deceive children of God that they are defeated. That they were defeated from the start, the fall of Adam.
Hence, When Christ arose from the dead, Death was swallowed up in Victory.
St Paul understood this, that physical death to a christian is a victory for God.That his purpose on this earth in us has been accomplished.
That is why St Paul says in the same chapter that "the sting of death is Sin".
Our loved ones who have passed on are alive in Christ just as we are.
The day of death of a Christian, is one of rejoicing in heaven for our heavenly father welcomes home his beloved.
Please note: in the same chapter he says " flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God."we have to be changed. Changed in death or in rapture.
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,"
It is the day we can say to our heavenly father that we have fulfilled his plan in our lives and look forward to being with and rejoicing beside him forevermore.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 7 it is written:
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
We cannot understand the mind nor the purpose of God in one's life; yes, we may pray for healing and claim promises of healing, But we must remember the words and promises of God serve only one purpose, that is the will of God in our lives.
Ecclesiastes chapter 8
17Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
It may be that our loved ones may pass away (for death is the ultimate healing)
We must accept that there is a time for everything in God's perfect plan.The perfect plans includes victory in death.
to sum it up,Ecclesiastes 3:
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
AMEN!
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