For the Living

Author: Joseph

Date: March 17, 2019

We feel sorrow and loss when someone we love dies. These emotions are part of our realization that life has ended and that the one who has died is no longer present in the body that is buried away in the earth. Without that person’s presence, all we have are the memories of the life they once lived. Yet we rejoice knowing that through the power of God’s salvation, those that had faith in Him are alive again where we cannot yet see them.

"...God, the giver of life."

Without the hope of the resurrection from the dead, people are drawn to commit evil practices – rituals, ceremonies, or commitments that are made in vain to remember the loved one that died. Without knowing God’s words well, people do not have hope, so they turn to evil practices in an attempt to retain their memory of the loved one that died.

God warned His people, “you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead” (Deuteronomy 14:1). Likewise, God previously spoke to Israel, saying, “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). Regardless of their origin, these practices are sinful to the Lord and He forbids His people from committing such acts.

There are numerous other rituals, ceremonies, or commitments that are not mentioned in the Bible. Some people hold a feast for their dead ancestors, others seek a diviner who attempts to speak to the dead, and some even commit vile acts of immorality in order to communicate with the dead. All these and more are forbidden by God, as He does not want our focus to be on the dead, rather, on the living. God warns Israel not to tolerate anyone who seeks to communicate with the dead and not to seek the dead at all (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:11).

People will continue to die in the span of your lifetime. It is an unnatural, but normal pattern of life in this world that is stained by the sin of Adam and Havah. We cannot think that in seeking the dead we will add anything to our lives. We are also unable to bring back anyone from the dead. No ritual, no ceremony, no commitment we make can reverse the death of someone we loved. The only power to overcome death rests in the salvation of God, the giver of life.

Do not commit evil acts for those who are dead and do not spend your time attempting to bring the dead back to life. You are still alive. You need to seek God before you, like those before you, also die. Spend your time giving your life and your faith to the living God who has the power to overcome death through His salvation.

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 14:1-2

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org