The Author’s Conclusion
by Jerry Whitlow
Death does reign temporarily, and our children are affected. Death does not take into consideration age, sex or nationality. Due to the sin of Adam, death will continue to reign until the return of Jesus Christ. However, death is not as bad as many may think.
Death for the child of God is simply leaving this earthly tabernacle and moving into a heavenly one. Paul said it this way, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-57).
When it comes to death Jesus can be trusted. Whether young or old, in Him must we place our trust, for it is Him who brings our comfort. John 14 says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus loves our children and desires them to be with Him. He loves them so much, he uses the term “My children” in Ezekiel 16. He shed His blood for these children against whom death had reigned. It is for them He died just as he died for all mankind. It is He by whom David was assured would take care of his son after leaving this earth through death. It was Jesus that gave David the confidence he would be with his son again. It was Jesus who said, “Suffer the children to come unto me.” It was Jesus who held and blessed the children. It is Jesus who has gone to prepare a place, so we can reunite with our children and families again. It is Jesus in whom my parents placed their faith and trust concerning the eternal destiny of themselves and my sister. It is Jesus whom my wife and I so long to see who has taken care of our little one all these years. It is Jesus our Redeemer, our Advocate, our Saviour whom we will praise throughout all eternity for grace, mercy and peace. It is Jesus on whom you can depend.
Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that children are Safe in the arms of God. I do not use the term “Saved” since they never had the opportunity nor understanding of “So Great Salvation,” but I use the term Safe due to the “Grace of God, and the gift by Grace” granted them according to Romans 5:15.
It is interesting to read Revelation 7:9 which says, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
According to the current world’s population, there is approximately 7.5 billion people. Of these 7.5 billion, less than 32% even claim any form of Christianity. More today are dying lost than dying saved. Matthew 7:13- 14 says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Keeping Mathew 7 in mind and knowing that the percentage of professing Christians is diminishing, Revelation 7 takes on a new light. It could be that the vast number of the great multitude is aborted, miscarried, or are very young children - children that are safe in the arms of God. This could be the place where I will be united with my sister and unborn child.
In Genesis 50 Joseph is preparing to step out into eternity through death. He has gathered his family together one final time. This chapter speaks of the last words and testament of Joseph. His last time of instruction to his family. Then the Word of God says in the final verse of Genesis, “So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” The word “coffin” is an interesting word. It is the Hebrew word arown which means box, ark or chest. It is from this word we get our English phrase “hope chest.”
The hope chest is used by young ladies for the placement of their most treasured possessions. There is great anticipation of opening it before her marriage.
It represents hope, love and security. It is this hope chest in which we so often must place our beloved children. We are not placing them there to say good bye, but to simply say, “I will see you again just before the marriage. I am placing your body here knowing you are no longer in this earthly tabernacle, but in the very presence of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 promises, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” However, very soon, the hope chest will be opened, and resurrection will occur: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
The family of Joseph had to experience this difficult time. The family of David had to experience this difficult time. Many others today are facing the same experience. I trust you will do what my parents did shortly after my sister’s death - trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
Just as two friends of my parents sat with them in their living room and shared the Word of God with them, you have the same opportunity today. The child that has stepped out into eternity is safe, but those who have the ability to comprehend must be saved. The child is in the arms of God, but the adult must repent and come to Christ.
Death reigns because of the sin of Adam. Each one is under this curse of sin. However, no one has to remain under this curse. Jesus came and paid your sin debt. Today He is giving you an opportunity to not only have your sin removed, not only spend eternity with Him in Heaven, but have the assurance you can be with your child again. Jesus said,
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Will you do that today? My parents opened the door of their hearts in 1962, and God gave them the comfort and peace to get through such a difficult situation. Notice the following passages:
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Matthew 18:2-3, “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Would you trust Christ today? Simply take Him at His Word and you too can have the assurance of having your family together in Heaven.