A hope of second meeting with dear mum who is no more in physical world

Letminthang Haokip *

(A tribute to beloved Mom on the 1st Death Anniversary, 10th March, 2017)

Have you lost your loved one in life? The pain, the grief, and the feeling of helplessness can seem unbearable. At such times, we need to go to God's word for comfort. The Bible helps us to understand how Jehovah and Jesus feel about death. Jesus, who perfectly reflected his Father, knew the pain of losing someone in death.

In his time, Jesus grief in different ways is encouraging to the one who lost his/her dear one's in their life. Jehovah God is able to fight and overcome that enemy. Let's see what God enables Jesus to do.

Lazarus had been buried in a cave, and Jesus asked that the stone sealing its entrance be taken away. The stone was rolled away, and Jesus cried out with a loud voice: "Lazarus come out!" What happened? The man that had been dead came out. Can you imagine the joy of the people who were around there? What a victory over death? Jesus did not claim to perform this amazing miracle on his own.

In his prayer just before calling out to Lazarus, he made it clear that Jehovah was the source of the resurrection. This was not the only time Jehovah used his power in this way. The resurrection of Lazarus is one of nine miracles of this kind recorded in God's word. To read and study this accounts is interesting. They teaches us that God is not partial, for the resurrected one, includes young and old, male and female, Israelite and non- Israelite.

Learning from the resurrection accounts:

The account of Lazarus teaches us that the resurrection is real, not a mere myth. Jesus raised Lazarus in front of a crowd of eyewitnesses. Even the religious leaders, who hated Jesus, did not deny this miracle.

Rather, they said: "What are we to do, because this man performs many signs." Many people went to see the resurrected man. As a result, even more of them put faith in Jesus. They saw in Lazarus living proof that Jesus was sent by God. This evidence was so powerful that some of the hard-hearted Jewish religious leaders planned to kill both Jesus and Lazarus.

Is it unrealistic to accept the resurrection as a fact? No, Jesus said that someday "all those in memorial tombs will be resurrected." Jehovah is the creator of all life. Should it be hard to believe that he can recreate life? Of course, much would depend on Jehovah's memory. Can he remember our dead loved ones?

Countless trillions of stars fill the universe, yet God give the name of each one! So Jehovah God can remember our dead loved ones in every detail, and he is ready to restore them to life.

How does Jehovah feel about resurrecting the dead? The Bible teaches that he is eager to raise the dead. The faithful man Job said to Jehovah "You will call, and I myself shall answer you. For the work of your hands you will have a yearning." Just think Jehovah actually yearns to bring the dead back to life. Is it not heart-warming to learn that Jehovah feels that way? But what about this future resurrection? Who will be resurrected and Where? v The Bible's resurrection accounts teach us much about the resurrection to come. People who were restored to life right here on earth will reunite with their loved ones. The future resurrection will be similar but much better. God's purpose is that the whole earth be made into paradise. So the death will not be raised to life in a world filled with war, crime, sickness and anxiety. They will have an opportunity to live forever in peace and harmony.

Revelation 20:13 says: "The sea gave up those dead in it, and the death and Hades gave up those dead in them." 'Hades' refers to the common grave of mankind. This collective grave will be emptied. All those billions who rest will live again. The Apostle Paul said: "There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."

The Bible also refers to another kind of resurrection, one to live as a spiritual creature in heaven. Only one example of this type of resurrection is recorded in the Bible, that of Jesus Christ. After Jesus was put to death as human, Jehovah did not allow his faithful son to remain in the grave. God resurrected Jesus, but not as a human.

The Apostle Peter explains that Christ was "put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." This truly was a great miracle. Jesus was alive again as a mighty spirit person! Jesus was the first ever to receive this glorious type of resurrection. And he would not be the last .

Knowing that he would soon return to heaven; Jesus told his faithful followers (disciples) that he would prepare a place for them there. Resurrection will be the second meeting with our dear and near one who had left us early in this life.

"In paradise the dead will rise and will be reunited with their loved ones."