Rest In Peace?

Seth Halpern Editor

“Rest in Peace” is a phrase we often hear and say regarding a person who died. We here it often on the news and on the posts of Facebook and Twitter users. Whether we knew the person ourselves or through another, we use this phrase as a sympathetic acknowledgement of death.

“Rest in Peace” or the abbreviated “RIP” form has been used seemingly more than ever with the recent horrible mass shootings in Gilroy, Dayton and El Paso. I seriously doubt that anyone attending the Garlic Festival or shopping at Walmart that day would have thought that this would be their last day.

After hearing about the tragedy at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, I said something that I wish I hadn’t. I said something that was not thought to be in any way “prophetic”. It was just in a fit of frustration, anger and sadness for humanity that I uttered the words, “This tragedy will be focusedon only until the next senseless mass shooting” I didn’t know that my words would become reality within 24 hours. Oh, the horror!

My soul grieved for the loss, bloodshed and the pain that each victim’s family would suffer. “Why?” I asked. I was not alone in asking that question. After the first few hours of grief and mourning by all who heard the news, the blaming begins: “Too many guns, not enough control”; “Security is too loose at events or in stores or public places”;” Not enough is being done for the mentally ill”, etc. The politicians find But what about loved one who may have been in perfect health? Is “Rest in Peace” enough?

Today, I went to the funeral of a friend from the church where I’m involved. He went to work one day recently and suddenly his heart gave out and his vehicle crashed. Mike was a good man, a hard-worker, devoted family man and friend of many. He (and we) were no more expecting that to be his last day on earth as those people in El Paso, Gilroy and Dayton. He was in decent health as far as any of us knew. In fact, we have many in our small church who have significant physical problems that keep them in and out of hospitals regularly; they are continually on our prayer lists. Not Mike, he was one of the strong and healthy men who would regularly be called on to help move tables and lead church workdays.

All those at our church believe with full confidence that Mike is truly “Resting in Peace” today with his Savior Jesus Christ. We believe that the only way to truly Rest in Peace with Christ in Heaven is to ask Him to forgive you of your sins (for which He was crucified), repent and live for Him here on earth. Although we grieve our loss of Mike and pray for his wife and family, we know that he is truly Resting in Peace. I wish I could say the same for each of the other victims of the mass shootings mentioned above. I didn’t know them. I hope that they all had a relationship with Jesus and are now truly Resting in Peace. The problem is that I can’t truthfully say “RIP” or “Rest in Peace” because the Word of God tells me that only those who know Jesus personally will truly “Rest in Peace” with their Savior. It takes a loving relationship between us and Christ to make that a reality. Although the phrase sounds comforting and sympathetic, it is not always the truth.

That may be hard to read. I get it. It seems exclusive, maybe even judgmental.It may seem that I’m saying that Heaven is reserved for only those who have a relationship with God through Jesus. That IS what I’m saying because that is what the Bible (the Word of God) says. I can’t answer you about specific people and their final destination because I don’t know their hearts and their relationship with God, but from God’s Word it is clear that we need to have a relationship with Him or He will have the right to say “I never knew you”. That should be a terrifying thought. Here’s the good news- not only can we truly “Rest in Peace” when we die and live forever (eternal life) with Jesus, but we can even have that rest today while we’re alive! Yes, we can “Rest in Peace” on earth!! We do this the same way. We ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, to enter into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and we change our lives around to live the way God wants us to as He describes in the Bible. He will give us that rest from that point on. In fact, the Hebrew word “Shalom” (in Greek, it’s Eirene) means Peace and “Sabbath” means “Rest”. Did you know that the Bible refers to Jesus as our “Sabbath” Did you also know that the Apostle Paul began his letters to the churches with the word “Eirene” which is the Greek word for “Peace”. Yes, we can have the rest and peace that God gives, even while we are alive. The best part of having that sabbath (rest) and shalom (peace) now is that we know that when we pass on from this life, we can be assured that we will “Rest in Peace” in Heaven for all eternity!