When Our Child Dies

Their place is quiet, already remembering them no more. Cries, questions, laughter – silence. Their room is more like a tomb, their bed a vacant bier. Well-meant flowers are not beautiful, comforting words barely heard. Sleep for the living is uneasy, hard to come by, not refreshing. Why, Lord, have you done this?

                We can trace his answer in Scripture. He loves his little ones. As soon as he said “seed” to Adam and Eve, children were front and center; his Son was. Children are part of his covenant promise to save the world: “I will be a God to you, and to your children after you.” They are marked out as belonging to him. They are not children of the world or children of the devil, but children of the heavenly Father.

                This is seen better when the Child of promise said: “Their angels always behold the face of their Father in heaven.” None knows better than He how much the children of believers on earth are loved and guarded in heaven. Not every covenant child is regenerate; every covenant child must be born again. The Lord knows who are His. They have angels protecting them, looking to the Father for orders to guard their ways “lest they dash their foot against a stone.”

                Our Lord took up the babes and toddlers into his arms and blessed them. For Him to bless them was not pious sentiment. He loves the children of his people. An Esau or Absalom here and there, but they are the exception, not the rule. Believers in Jesus Christ may claim his blessing then to be his blessing now. “Of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

                Peter did not hold back at Pentecost. “The promise is to you and to your children.” Paul preached the same: “But now your children are holy.” They are set apart to God. His working in them is mysterious to us and always in Christ, with his appointed means of grace. They are not redeemed differently than adults. Always by the precious blood of the precious Savior. His sovereign grace and covenant promise silence our uncertainty and inspire our diligence.

                All of this to say: in the death of a beloved child, a dear grandchild, nephew, niece, cousin, the Lord has brought them to his home. They need no faith there, hear no squabbling chorus of human opinion but only God’s symphony of glory and love. They have departed to be with Christ, and great is their reward and joy! He called them not to labor long in this veil of tears but to pass early through heaven’s gates. In an instant with Christ, they know better than the smartest here, sing as clearly as an angel, and are without a single fear or worry. They are anxious for nothing; love has chased away every fear and furrowed brow. They have no pain, enjoy the perfect peace that eludes us here, and see Christ in his beauty and love. They know He is worthy of any suffering here, to have him there.

                Faith believes God’s promise and sees them rejoicing, smiling, and worshipping with angels and believers. My covenant child is with my Savior. She is where I want to be, soon will be. I will not demand her back – I will give her into the arms of joy, of Jesus. I will weep and miss those footsteps, but soon I will hear them again, see her face again, and feel her arms around my neck. I will not lament the crumbs we might have had on earth when I think of the reunion there. Resurrection approaches, the death of death, a new heaven and earth to walk together forever with our Lord in his kingdom of light and joy.