Dealing with Loss in Life
The last few years—and even recent days—have been tough for the families of our CTN team members when it comes to losing loved ones. When I lost my dad in June 2024, I gained a new understanding of what it really means to lose someone close, like a parent.
One way that a person who believes in Christ can show others who they are isn’t just with words, but by how they react during hard times—especially when it comes to death.
Death is a strange thing for a follower of Jesus. To us, it’s not the end but the start of eternity with Him. That might sound insensitive to someone who only sees life on earth and doesn’t understand heaven, but that’s why it’s important to show this hope not just with words, but through actions that reflect our confidence in our eternal life with Jesus.
The Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 (NLT) explains this so well:
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies, we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by trusting, not by what we see. 8 Yes, we are confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies so we can be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we’re here in the body or away from it, our goal is to please God.
Notice that “home” isn’t here on earth, but in heaven. And “these bodies” are just temporary shells for our true, eternal selves. As followers of Christ, we should long for heaven and being with Jesus, but that shouldn’t stop us from living in a way that pleases God here on earth. That way is showing the world around us what it looks like to have stability only God can give in times of trouble. If we react the exact same way as someone with no hope in Jesus, then what is our witness worth? Our emotional reaction to adversity should be a “thermometer” and not a “thermostat”; emotions should show WHERE we are with Christ and not be what dictates the direction of our lives.
To truly live the Christlike way, our priorities need to be right. That might sound simple, but what we focus on is what we shape our lives around.
Are we just building our lives on success, or on the emotional connections we have with people here? Are we more excited about “making it to heaven” than about being with Jesus forever? There’s a difference: many want heaven to avoid hell, but true excitement about heaven is because we were made for fellowship with Christ—a joy that’s only temporary here on earth.
And as believers, when someone we loved passes away with hope in eternity, we don’t have to be forever sad. We can celebrate—they’ve reached where we all want to be someday. I won’t pretend I’m always joyful that my dad is gone; I cried a lot at his memorial. But I know those tears are temporary, not forever. I believe my dad is now with my in-laws, Bob and Molly D’Andrea, his good friend John, and his parents Esther and Eddie.
If you’re reading this and don’t have that hope of eternity, today is a good day to reach out to Jesus and ask Him to change your life and give you that hope. You can also contact us through the website, and I’ll be happy to share the good news of the Gospel with you. Have a great week!