“I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. – He is not the God of the dead but of the living.
Matthew 22,32
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob … all of them are alive, not dead!  All whose names are written in the Book of Life will never pass, but will live, for their God is a God of the living, not the dead.
Jesus Christ conquered death.  He entered the kingdom of death and led out all God’s children in a triumphant march.  Death is really the penalty of sin, but because Jesus settled the debt, we are able to go unpunished.  He has cleansed us and forgiven us all our sins.  Therefore death is no longer the penalty for sin!
He who creates his own god and refuses to accept the God of the living, who seeks his own way into heaven and not that chosen by God, will be granted his wish.  He will remain without God.  God gives rain and abundant sunshine over the righteous and the unrighteous, but the one who refuses God is left by the wayside.  It will be as if he never lived.  God is not a God of the dead, but rather a God of the living!
It is a comfort for all who have lost a child:  with Him the beloved child is alive.  It is sitting on His lap.  Heaven is filled with children!
It is a comfort for all who have lost a loved one.  He is alive and waiting for us!  We will see each other again, recognise each other and rejoice together, because every grudge and every accusation against each other is forgiven and forgotten.
It is a comfort for me.  When I die, Jesus will take me in His arms and carry me into His Kingdom.
Death is not some dark hole in the ground.  We have hope!  The Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge that we will live!
Therefore let us prepare ourselves.  Let us live in such a way that we are ready to step before Jesus at any time.  Let us live joyfully and full of hope, even if we are currently burdened by sadness or find ourselves in difficult situations.  Because there is no end, no full stop!  Jesus says:  Behold, I make all things new.
Thank You, Jesus, You are my door into Heaven and to God!  You paid the price for me.  You are Lord over life and death.  With You there is no ending, no conclusion.  Thank You for giving me hope, comfort that lifts me up, thank You for the joy, the anticipation of Heaven, and thank You for allowing me to experience a taste of Heaven right here on earth.  You are good to me!
Bible study for today:  Psalm 31,20-25