Fallen asleep

In case some some of you haven't heard already, my Grandfather passed away today. I was able to be there by his side as they took him off life support this afternoon. It was hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. Mostly because as I looked at his face, with his eyes open but not seeing, I kept on thinking, 'Imagine what he's seeing right now! He's seeing his Creator, his Savior, his Friend, his God!' And through all of that, I actually found myself envying him in a certain way. His race has run, and he is now with his eternal Father, basking in the pure and all-encompassing love of God. He's being embraced by the One who adopted him into His holy family.


As I sit here, weary and spent, reflecting on this day, I can't help but think of something I read in the Bible. I'll share it with you.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23
"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ."

Today, I said on facebook that my grandfather had fallen asleep this afternoon and was now with God. I did not mean that he had drifted off to sleep at a certain time, I mean that he had passed away.

After Christ's resurrection from the dead, believers in Him had started to refer to dying in Christ as "falling asleep". Jesus had defeated death once and for all when he rose. Now, death has no power over those that die with God's salvation. He paved the way for all who know Him.

What a beautiful image of God's love! He made it possible for us to be with Him for eternity. We who belong to Christ never really die. Like that Bible verse that everyone learned in Sunday school says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Today, I saw that transformation. I witnessed my grandfather as he fell asleep. I expected to cry my eyes out; I expected to mourn and wail as the machine showed his heart rate diminishing.

But as it was happening, his eyes opened. To an outside observer, it might have seemed to be a blank stare at the ceiling; unfocused. For he was on medication that was keeping him sedated and, presumably, unaware of what was going on. But as I looked into his eyes, all I could see there was hope. Hope and utter joy. As I looked in his eyes, I knew he was ready to meet the Lord. And all doubts I might have had about heaven flew out the window. God was taking him home.

I don't know how else to describe what happened in that room. It was natural, yet supernatural. It was horrific, yet beautiful. It was death, yet it was life. I've no doubt at all that he is with the Father now. He doesn't have any health problems; he doesn't have any pain. He is purely joyful and purely loved.

What love the Father has for us, that he gives us such a gift as that! We don't deserve it, yet he has given it freely. He has given his own Son to die such a horrible death to atone for our sins. And He has the ultimate victory! He defeated death to give us life! I can't even fathom that kind of love. Like the song says, His is an amazing love.



God, thank you for what you have given us. Thank you for taking my grandfather by the hand and taking him into your presence. I rejoice for him, and I rejoice that you have given me that same gift. I excitedly await the day when you take my hand and I can dwell with you forever. Until that day comes, I praise you for every day you have given me on this earth. I pray that I can tell all that I can of the wonderful love you have, and of the amazing gift you have given. I pray that I may do your will in all things, and that I learn to love like you love.


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