There are some Bible verses you can read, even memorize, but not fully comprehend. The 23rd Psalm verse 4 is such a verse. As I stood in my son’s bedroom looking at his lifeless body, gently rubbing the hair of his head, the sense of loss was overwhelming. I felt my soul had been ripped out of me. I felt so helpless and all my hopes and prayers seemed so empty. Some time latter I re-read this verse and I realized, though I was grieving, Israel was OK because Jesus was with him as he passed from this life to the next.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” – Ps. 23:4

It has been several months since he lost the battle with cancer, coming so soon after his mother’s passing, and I still struggle with the lingering grief but, a song by Israel’s son, Micah, comforts me as I know both my wife Anita and my son Israel have fought the last battle and emerged victorious with Jesus.

(Music and Lyrics by Micah Cooley A Day of Eternity Original Song)

“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 Thes. 4:15-18

This verse is a comfort to all those who have lost loved ones to death – we will meet again if we remain faithful to the Lord. Hebrews chapter 11 is called the chapter of the hero’s of the faith because it assures us that alive or asleep (dead) God always honors those who have faith in Him.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Heb. 11:6

The City of God

It is said of Abraham “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  And so it is for all faithful Christians, they are just pilgrims on this earth waiting for a better place to come. And it is said of them –

“But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” – Heb. 11:16

I pray that you are not so in love with this world that you do not desire that better country that is coming to the faithful.