In Whose Hands Are You?

I CONDUCTED a funeral service recently. After each funeral, I will feel rather exhausted - a mixed bag of triumph, knowing that the person had passed on to eternal life in heaven; and a sense of tragedy, knowing that the family who had lost the person will have to live with a sense of emptiness in the person's absence.

So this morning, I returned to my bookshelf and pored over several books relating to the morbid topic - Death.

This forces a question: How do the Bible view death, particularly for the Christian? What does a spiritual, eternal perspective look like?

In Psalm 116:15, it is written, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly saints."

Why? What is it about death for the Christian that constitutes it precious to God, and therefore, to the believer?

The Bible uses three graphic, compelling pictures or metaphors for the death of a believer.

1. Going to Sleep (1 Thess 4:13-17);
2. Going on a journey (2 Tim 4:6)
3. Going home (John 14:1-3).

Regardless of the three metaphors, there is one compelling thought, which is encapsulated in a poem (unknown author) below - think about it.


In Whose Hands Are You?

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth about $19
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy.
A slingshot in David’s hands is a mighty weapon.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.


As you now see, it depends on whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes , your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God’s hands, because, you see, it depends on whose hands it’s in.