It doesn’t matter who we are, death brings us all down to the same level and claims us all. Solomon wrote, ‘No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death’, Ecclesiastes chapter 8 verse 8. Moses was the leader of the children of Israel and Aaron, his brother, was High Priest. However, the time came when God decreed that they should both die. We read of Moses that he was ‘one hundred and twenty years old when he died’, Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 7. Even though Aaron’s life ended in a disappointing manner, because of his disobedience, God announced his impending death with these words: ‘Aaron shall be gathered to his people’, Numbers chapter 20 verse 24.

We spend time in this world in the company of others and the same will be true beyond death. A wonderful prospect awaits those who have trusted Christ as Saviour. Paul reveals that a time will dawn, when ‘the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words’, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 16-18.

It is a great comfort to know that we will not be alone after we have died. We will, indeed, be gathered to our people, i.e. those who, like ourselves have trusted Christ and believed that He died for their sins on the cross. We will praise Him together for all eternity for His love. What a contrast to those who have rejected him, who will spend an eternity together, separated from Him. There will be no comfort for them!