Hope After Loss - Leaning on God After Losing a Loved One to AddictionSample

Where is My Loved One?

Many people don’t give much thought to the afterlife. But now you and I have a real interest in heaven, because someone we love has passed from this life.

What is heaven like, and how do we know if our loved ones are there? Is it only for people who were “good” on this earth, and are they now a bunch of angels flying around playing harps?

Here are some things the Bible says about heaven:

Heaven is where God the Father resides. (Acts 7:49, Matthew 6:10)

Jesus the Son lives there and is preparing a place for us. (John:14:2)

We will be reunited with loved ones and meet the Lord, and from then on will be always with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

We will worship God with the angels and redeemed people. (Revelation 5:11-13)

It is a place full of joy and pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:11)

Death, sin, and sadness will be no more. (Revelation 21:4)

So are our loved ones in this glorious place?

Unfortunately, because of the control the drugs had over their brains, our loved ones often did not live pretty lives. Addicts steal, they lie, they break relationships, they spend time in jail. On this earth, they may have been judged as “bad people.” But according to God’s Word, salvation is not about a person’s actions, but their FAITH. This is not to glaze over addicts’ sin or excuse their behavior. But the Bible is clear that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Some of us may wonder about our loved one’s faith, but that is not in our hands to decide. We are not the judge and jury of the universe. There is a loving, gracious God who created our loved ones, and He is the one in control of their eternal fate. And we can trust Him with that.

I am reminded of the thief being crucified on the cross next to Jesus, who lived a life of reckless, rebellious sin. Minutes before his death, he reaches out to Christ. How does Christ respond? Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

My daughter may have struggled on this earth. But I can find comfort in knowing that she is now healed, living in Her Father’s courts, experiencing the goodness of His house, and the holiness of His temple.

Today's Challenge:
Can we trust God with our loved ones’ eternal security? Who do you know who needs to hear about the hope of heaven?

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for preparing a place for your believers, and thank you that we can look forward to being there with you in a state of eternal joy. We rest in the hope that our loved ones are there waiting for us. Please help us to trust you in all things, including our loved ones’ eternal well-being.