There’s another observation we can make based on the story of a 12-year-old child mentioned in the Gospels. She’s known as the daughter of Gyrus. This little girl had died and her family and friends were inconsolable. So Jesus visited the home and heard mourers wailing loudly and he told them, “Do not weep.
She is not dead, but she is sleeping.” They jered him. But he took the parents to the room where the girl’s body was residing. He took her hand and he said, “Little girl, arise.” Her spirit returned. She rose at once. And Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Those words of Jesus, “She is not dead. She is sleeping.
” They weren’t just spoken to Gyrus. They are for every mom and dad or grandparent who has ever lost a little one. Thank you for watching Turning Point. Here is Dr. Jeremiah with his message. What about the children? On the morning of November 10th, 2013, a youth pastor named Cameron Cole stumbled into what he later called the most magical conversation of my life.
A lost Lego propelled Cameron and his three-year-old son, Cam, into a discussion that changed both of their lives forever. During that conversation, little Cam, a brighteyed, curly-haired boy, told his father to get in the car so they could go see Jesus. His father explained that he wouldn’t see Jesus till they were in heaven.
And naturally, the little guy started asking questions about heaven. And the conversation ended with Cam professing his faith in Christ with childlike simplicity. That night, Cam mysteriously died. No medical reason was apparent for his death. The doctors listed it as sudden unexplained death in childhood. For Cam’s parents, Cameron and Lauren, this was the start of a journey into their worst nightmare.
Their descent into a dark, sad valley. Cameron later wrote in the book that he wrote called Heavenward. He said, ‘Amidst the sorrow and grief of my child’s death, something radically new happened in my daily mindset. Heaven became an almost present part of my perspective. This transformation made sense.
This is where my firstborn child now lived. As the sorrow of grief subsided, he continued, “Heavenwardness provided richer fellowship with Jesus.” I had more perspective and hope. I had more comfort and more patience. Though I was suffering deeply from the loss of my son, God was blessing my inner life in a unique way. One of the most frequent asked questions that I get about heaven is also one of the hardest.
What happens to children who pass away? It’s not a new issue. both the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and the gospel story in the New Testament open on that particular note. The story of the Exodus begins when Pharaoh orders the deaths of all baby boys among Hebrew slaves in Egypt. And the Gospel of Matthew begins with King Herod sending his soldiers to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem in an attempt to destroy the little one whom the Magi called the King of the Jews.
