“…Let the little children come to
Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”—Mark 10:14
Last year, a six year old child was
among the twelve people who were murdered in a movie theater. However, this does not tell the story about
children’s deaths world-wide. According
to Global Issues, in 2007, “some 21,000 children die every day around the
world.” Furthermore they report that this
is, “Equivalent to 1 child dying every 4 seconds, 14 children dying every
minute, and that some 92 million children will die between the [years of] 2000
and 2010.” The majority of the children
die from, “Poverty, hunger, preventable diseases and illnesses.”
Regardless of how a child dies, the
impact upon the family can be devastating and long lasting, unless they have
the assurance of where their child will spend eternity. Nonetheless the death of a loved one is never
easy, whether you are a Christian or not.
Understandably, people who experience the death of a child want
assurance that their little one is safe in the arms of God. The Bible is not explicit about what happens
to those who are too young to make a proclamation of faith; however, the Lord’s
mercy upon them becomes clear as we study His Word.
Over the years, people have created
unbiblical explanations for what happens to little ones who die. There are those who argue that salvation is
available to some but not to others, which is scripturally inaccurate (see John
3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). Another more
complicated theory holds that God uses His foreknowledge to determine whether a
child who dies will enter heaven or hell.
The idea that He rescues those who He knows should have grown up and been
saved, but He rejects the rest. What
terrible uncertainty that would mean for family members left behind. Another inaccurate explanation contends that
God uses His foreknowledge to allow some children to die because their life
would not have been one of good moral judgment.
God does not keep people
guessing. What His Word teaches is that
during the early years of life, a child does not know how to choose good from
evil, “Moreover your little ones, and
your children, who you say will be victims, who today have no knowledge of good
and evil…” (Deuteronomy 1:39). “For before the Child shall know to refuse
the evil and choose the good…” (Isaiah 7:16) and therefore is not held
responsible for his moral conduct.
Accordingly, when a little one departs from life, the Lord is waiting with open arms.
This is the only theology that makes biblical sense, given the Father’s
character, desires, and plan.
Until a child is mature enough to
decide about whether to serve the Lord, he or she is safe from divine judgment. Our just and loving God does not punish
children for being too young to grasp their need of a Savior. Believers join their departed little ones in
heaven, “But now he is dead… I shall go
to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23).
If you are a believer, then you have
the assurance of an eternal home in heaven when you die, and you will be
reunited with your believing loved ones in heaven. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so God, will bring with Him those who asleep in Jesus. For this we
say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the
coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the lord
Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore
comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Although there is grief in death,
for the believer we are not to sorrow as others who have no assurance—no
comfort, for we know that death is not the end; in Christ there is life
everlasting.
Prayer—Father
today I thank You that there is assurance and comfort knowing that in Christ
there is life everlasting. I pray for the
families of children that Your Spirit of Comfort will touch their lives today
and ease the pain and grief of death.
Lord help them to know that they are in Your loving care, in Jesus Name.
Amen.
