When a person dies and the body is being committed to the earth, the officiating minister will often say may his soul or her soul rest in peace and everyone will respond with an amen. You may also see this statement inscribed on the obituary poster of the deceased or sometimes people giving their condolences to the family of the deceased would add the same words to their condolence message.

There are so many things we are so used to that we don’t bother checking on to ascertain it’s consistency with God’s word. Inasmuch as it is a nice thing to say, is it really right to just tell a bereaved person that the soul of the one who just passed away will rest in peace? Is the person really resting in peace at all? Does the person’s soul really require such prayers or wishes to have an experience of resting in peace?

AN ETERNAL DESTINATION

We need to first get it clear that there is an eternal destination for every human living on earth. And that eternal destination is predetermined by the choices we make hear and now. No amount of prayers can be offered to change the destination of one who is dead.

Our Lord Jesus painted a clear picture through the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

(Luke 16:22-24)
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

And in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeing Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

The imagery used here is very graphic. The rich man had all his earthly pleasures and did not pay attention to his eternal destination. The beggar on the other hand made it to Abraham’s bosom after his death not just because he didn’t enjoy earthly pleasures as we may think, but because in his heart he regarded God. Often times people in their low estate regard God more than those who have abundance, that is because they have a lot of basic challenges that seems to draw their attention to their need for divine or supernatural assistance. Mark 10:17-27 gives us a clear insight. Those who trust in riches will find it hard to trust in God.

The story, represents two kinds of possibilities that human beings may face after death – eternal bliss or eternal torment.

Jesus further said:

John 3:17-18
“He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

The above passage shows us that a man is condemned already if he doesn’t believe in the Son of God. Notice the condemnation is not something that will happen later. Whatever happens later will only be a consequence of the decision he already made. That decision puts him/her in a state already. Likewise the man that is saved also. The decision to accept Christ settles his/her place in eternity with God.

WHO IS REALLY RESTING IN PEACE?

Peace is not a state of inactivity but a state of calmness based on the trust and assurance one has in God.

Jesus said,

(John 16:33)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

This means that true peace is only experienced in Christ and not outside Christ. The words of Christ births peace because he is the Prince of peace himself. It is only the man in Christ that understands the true meaning of peace and has the true experience of peace. The world can never understand what peace truly means since they are not in Christ. Also, peace is not something ones experiences in death but in Christ whether dead or alive.

The statement “May his/her soul rest in peace”, suggests that one is praying or wishing for peace for the soul of the deceased. If the eternal destination of a man is predetermined then there will be no basis for such prayers or wishes. That it sounds nice doesn’t mean you should utter it. A child of God should know what to say.

It’s obvious we may be at loss for words to say to the bereaved. I was affected by this also. When I began to ponder on these this sometimes back it took me a while to search for words I could use to replace popular one. Even apostle Paul had to change the word “dead” to “sleep” when referring to believers who have passed on.

In Isaiah 26:3 we understand this more clearly,

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you”

A man who is dead may have respite from the troubles of this life doesn’t mean that he is experiencing peace or bliss on the other side of eternity. We should know what to say to the bereaved. Only the man who is in Christ is really resting in peace. We have peace in Christ and we have entered into rest in Christ.

(Hebrews 4:10)
“For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

Stay edified.

Written by Ademola Aderibigbe