The Death Of An Infant
A terrible terrible event just took place and I have been called upon to comment knowing that I am a Christian. My son’s niece just had her first baby on the 18th of Feb. Yesterday we had a shower for them with the christening to take place today. The baby was laying in bed with both parents and when they awoke the baby was dead.
Q. A terrible terrible event just took place and I have been called upon to comment knowing that I am a Christian. My son’s niece just had her first baby on the 18th of Feb. Yesterday we had a shower for them with the christening to take place today. Now the sad part. The baby was laying in bed with both parents and when they awoke the baby was dead. What a sad event. Could you give me any strength to pass on?
A. I’ve participated in several events like this and they are truly a shock to one’s system. We think that a life barely begun and full of promise has been abruptly ended. I’ve heard it compared to handing a child an ice cream cone, and then after they get only one lick, yanking it away from them and grinding it underfoot.
At times like this it’s vital to remember that God didn’t do this and the parents aren’t being punished. Jesus took all our punishment for us. Premature deaths are the result of sin in the world, and that’s Satan’s doing.
Also, God sees these things differently from us. From His perspective a child has been spared a lifetime of trials and disappointments, and contamination from sin, and gone straight to the eternal reward promised to believers, for all children under the age of reason belong to the Lord.
I’ve used these events as an opportunity to speak about the uncertainties of life, and as a wake up call to those in the audience who haven’t settled the question of their eternal destiny yet. No one knows how much time we have. Perhaps this happened to shock someone into action.
On one occasion I was able to help unbelieving parents make sure that their separation from their daughter would only be temporary. We knelt in front of her grave and her parents gave their hearts to the Lord in the most incredible fulfillment of Romans 8:28 I’ve ever seen.
Funerals are for the living, not the dead. If the parents are believers you can speak of a temporary separation, remind them of the great reunion that’s coming, and reassure them of their child’s happiness. You can also remind everyone not to be sad for what the child has missed, but for those who will miss the child. The baby is happier than any of us and wouldn’t come back on a bet.
And as I’ve said, Romans 8:28 works even here. Our job is to expect the good and embrace it when it comes.
