THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE... (when a loved one dies)

"Where is my loved one now?" is a question that has preoccupied every single person who has ever had to deal with death of a loved one. We have often been taught that, if a person dies without having gotten saved, he will go to hell. This has pushed many believers over the ages to try and "do" something for their loved ones dead in sin. Thus the practice of baptizing babies commenced, to ensure their salvation should they die early, and even were there believers that got baptized "on behalf of" the deceased to ensure his or her salvation!

These actions may sound like desperate measures, but what if we, the modern generation, have become too "apathetic" in our efforts to save those who have died without Christ...?

So what can be done...?!

First of all, let's stop judging. Nobody knows what happens to a person’s spirit in those final moments between life and death. Even while they are alive and well, we aren't in their hearts to know their true convictions about things. It is therefore all the more impossible for us to know, should they have been given a choice "on their way out", what their decision might have been?

Scientific studies have proved that brain activity can go on for an extended period after a person has been declared dead (read more here). On a physiological basis alone, there is therefore ample room for God to supernaturally intervene at a person's death, and give them a last opportunity to turn to Him and Live...! Of course, we can't accept this theory as gospel truth, but if you read on, you will understand why it is nonetheless an important possibility to consider.

Our modern society is most absolutely clueless about the power of prayer. This is a vast topic, but I'd like to highlight just one scripture.

John 15: 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.(AMPLIFIED)

As you can see, it is not an empty promise, it comes with a "conditional clause" (a hefty one!) Still, it has a connotation of "unlimited" for those who do meet the set conditions.

As a mother, I have noticed that I have a spiritual authority over the members of my household, that I do not yet understand or exercise properly, but that makes it possible for me to pray for them for divine intervention in situations, healing from sickness, etc. I therefore believe (based on my own experience but also on testimonies that I have heard from other moms) that if you pray for the salvation of a family member, God will be faithful to give that person a proper occasion to consciously choose between Life and death before it's too late (whatever that may mean for God!). As a matter of fact, there is nothing scriptural that limits us to pray only for the salvation of our family...!

“So what if I did not exercise my authority while my loved one was alive, and now I regret it?”

You know, contrary to us, God is not limited to time and space. When it's too late for us, it isn't necessarily too late for Him. He created the dimensions of time and space as a part of our world, but HIS "present tense" can be anywhere in time, since He is not confined to, or defined by time!

To prove my point:

- He took Moses back in time to show him everything that had happened in order for him to write the first 5 books in the Bible.

- He took Daniel and John into the future to show them the end of days.

In the words of Isaiah 46: 9- 10

“Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’

God is 100% in control all of the time, because He owns time.

But there is more. In Revelations 13:8 we learn that the Lamb (Jesus) was slain before the foundation of the World. You see, because God is outside of time, the sacrifice of Jesus was not only "planned" before creation itself took place, but once performed, the sacrifice of Jesus was also valid for the whole of our creation's past, present and future! Thus, Jesus brought salvation even to those who were already dead by the time that He was born on earth. If you are starting to feel confused, I am simply trying to tell you that, even if your loved one has died years ago, you can still pray for their salvation, because God is able to go back in time and present Himself to that person, even if only during their last living moments. Because He is God.

According to one of my trusted Bible teachers, Dr Bruce Allen, there is a underground church in China that goes into the graveyards at night and pray for the dead, who have not met Christ during their life on earth, to be revived. Then they lead them to salvation...

This may sound too far-fetched for your current religious box..., but let's say, for argument sake, that this is true... Can you see how much authority and opportunity we have to change eternal destinies if we dare only BELIEVE...?

The question is not whether or not God is able, it is whether or not we will choose to believe in His omnipotence!

With this message of hope there also comes a big responsibility... What will you do with this knowledge? The eternal destiny of someone you used to know (or someone in your town's graveyard...) may depend on how you choose to exercise your faith...!