What happens when a person dies?
Kids Ask Hard Questions about Death
When your children study about Jesus’ death, they may ask hard questions. As much as we want to protect our children from pain, death is a part of life. With the onslaught of this pandemic, our families may suffer the death of someone we love. We can’t avoid difficult conversations. Prepare now. Search the Scriptures prayerfully. Ask God to help you anticipate your child’s questions. God’s answers to our fears about death will reassure your child of their Father’s loving care.
Every child knows what it’s like to fall asleep in the car or on the couch. Later, they wake up, tucked in bed. How did that happen? Someone carried them and placed them safely where they belong. With this sense of security, a child feels safe and loved. As God’s children, the process of death may frighten us, but Jesus is with us. He promises we will not see death (John 8:51). When we close our eyes in death, we will awaken to see Jesus in heaven (John 11:25-26); John 14:2-3; John 14:2-3; Luke 23:43; 1 Corinthians 15:12-18;). What awaits God’s children beyond death is better than our best day now (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43).
Death is not good! Death is our enemy. God made us to live with him forever. Yet all living things die. Flowers, bugs, pets and people—all die. Death is the punishment for human sin. Our Savior Jesus died but death could not keep him in the grave! Why? Because Jesus had no sin. (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). Jesus won the battle over death for us (Romans 6:9; 2 Timothy 1:10; Revelation 1:18). Death cannot hold God’s children because Jesus broke the power of death (Isaiah 53:5-6; Romans 4:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 56; Hebrews 2:14).
God’s gift of life on earth will continue for all the time He has planned for each of us (Psalm 139:16). Jesus has written our death as an appointment on his calendar. Knowing this frees God’s children from worry or blaming anyone. We need not fear. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside of our Father’s goodness and sovereign grace. (Matthew 10:29-31). Life in heaven is even better than the best earth can offer (Philippians 1:21).
We are glad that Christians who die are living in God’s presence. But our own loneliness at their death makes us sad. We miss being with a person who has died. We do not need to be ashamed of crying. Jesus was sad when his friend died (John 11:33-35). God tells us to grieve with those who grieve (Romans 12:15). He wants us to share the comfort Christ has shared with us (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).