For the believer in Christ, death is simply “resting our eyes” in death. Paul said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8). Jesus told his disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3 NIV). Heaven is real for those who are ready.

Several years ago on Memorial Day weekend I drove by Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. Thousands of white crosses lined the landscape – row after row. A feeling of awe at the vast numbers swept over me. When I have visited some of the battlegrounds of the Civil War and saw pictures of the cemeteries abroad where row after row of fallen soldiers and sailors slept the sleep of death, I have been saddened and yet humbled that so many have lain down their lives so we could have the freedoms we have and enjoy in America.

Multitudes of Americans spend Memorial Day simply as a long weekend of leisure and entertainment. They spend no time honoring the dead who so bravely died to guarantee our liberty. Many Americans speed through life because they do not want to consider their own mortality – that some day they too must face death. But those white crosses filling the landscape row by row throughout the battle fields of the world speak of hope and life beyond the grave.

Because of the cross of Christ, you need not fear death. Jesus conquered sin and death when he died on the cross as our substitute for sin. Our sins brought judgment and death upon us all. (Romans 3:23; 6:23) But Jesus took the judgment we deserved in his own body when he willingly allowed man to nail him to the old rugged cross. He took our curse but death could not hold the Son of God. On the third day Jesus Christ arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

When your time comes to die, can you “rest your eyes” in peace with the Blessed hope of eternal life? The Apostle Paul said, “If we have hope in this life only, we are of all me most miserable” (I Corinthians 15:19).

One of my grandmother’s favorite hymns was “Rock of Ages”. She would often sing it as she worked around the house. The third verse of the hymn gives this blessed assurance, “While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy Throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”

The psalmist David spoke of hiding in the cleft of a rock as a shelter and refuge from the raging storm. Perhaps you are facing a raging storm; Jesus is the refuge from the storms of life. David tells us in the 23rd Psalm, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil.”

Jesus was crucified between two thieves even though Pilate had pronounced him innocent of any wrong doing. One thief cursed and railed on Jesus. The penitent thief who believed on Jesus said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Today you shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42). When the penitent thief closed his eyes in death, he passed from this earthly life into heaven to be with the Lord. After Jesus paid the price for our redemption by shedding his blood (I Peter 1:18-19) on the cross he cried, “It is finished.” He then closed his eyes and died after committing his spirit back to the Father. Three days later Jesus arose from the dead and after appearing to many over a space of 40 days ascended back to the Father where he was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God. (I Peter 3:22)

Perhaps you have a loved one who has closed their eyes in death. Someday you will “rest your eyes” in death. But you can have the assurance of eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).