When someone dies it is natural to begin to wonder what has happened. Most people have some belief in eternal life, still in this country. There are many, of course, who believe simply that we are flesh and blood and when we die, that is it, the end of that flesh and blood and so the end of that person's existence completely.

As Christians we know that we are more than just flesh and blood though. We are spirit too. It is our spirit which responds to God in life and it is our spirit which continues to exist after we die. But more than that, Jesus promised too that we would enjoy not just a spiritual life for eternity, but also that we would enjoy new bodies too!  There's a great passage in John's gospel (John 14:1-6) and this is worth looking at yourself if you have a Bible. It speaks about lots of things, but here are few which might help.

It was spoken by Jesus as He was preparing to leave His disciples. It is as though Jesus was getting them ready for His departure, in the same way that we have lost someone; the disciples were going to lose their Friend and Master. Jesus was saying to them; here are some words that will help you in the future, hold on to them.

It was spoken to allay our fears (verse 1); Jesus says, 'let not your heart be troubled'. Death is not the end for the Christian, there is something much more glorious awaiting them.

It was spoken to bolster our faith (verse 1). This is often a time when faith is tested and we wonder what is happening to our lives; Jesus says, 'believe in God, believe also in me'. It is through difficult times that faith can be strengthened and can strengthen our lives. Often people say to us, 'you know I don't know how I would have coped without God. He has kept me and helped me through this difficult time. That can be your experience too if you let Jesus into your life to help you.

It was spoken to show that there is room for all (verse 2). Jesus says, 'in my Father's house there are many dwelling places'. There is room for all in the Kingdom of God and He is waiting with His arms wide open to accept us.

It was spoken to prepare the way for us through this difficult time (verse 2, 3) Jesus says he is going to prepare a place and will come to meet us. This is a real comfort to us; He will be there welcoming us into His heavenly mansion.

It was spoken to show the way into the blessings God offers to all. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.' He is there waiting for us, but not all accept His offer of joy and freedom and salvation. To them the offer is open, but rejected, either explicitely when people turn away from Jesus, or implicitely by the way that they ignore His ofer of life. They may not directly oppose him, but they just quietly put Him on one side and forget about Him, until sometimes it is too late.

We may not know what our loved one thought, or believed about Jesus, but God knows all things and His wisdom is perfect; His power is infinite and so He knows exactly where we all stand before Him; it is the difference between life and death to Him. We can only stand before God for ourselves, not for others. So the question comes back to us. Where do we stand before God? Or put put it starkly as one Christian group used to, 'If you were to die tonight, what good reason is there that God should allow you into His heaven? The answer to this can only be found in John 14:6; because of trust in Jesus alone for salvation - there is no other way.