There’s a reason Halloween is celebrated each year on October 31st. Halloween (or All Hallows Eve) is the night before what used to be a major Christian holiday: All Saints Day (or All Hallows Day). Some people even say that many Halloween traditions had their roots in this Christian festival as Christians would dress up like beloved saints who had died and gone to heaven or cook and eat the favorite treats of departed loved ones. Today there’s still candy and costumes. There are lots of devils and demons and death. Who’s forgotten? The saints. The ones the original holiday was about – the saints – are forgotten. There’s someone who never forgets about his saints: Jesus. In the Bible, a saint is any person who believes in Jesus as her Savior. You’re a saint. I’m a saint. We’ve been made holy and forgiven by the blood of Jesus. Often, Christians especially use the term “saints” to refer to those believers who have died and gone to heaven. God never forgets his saints. In fact, the Bible says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). “Precious” and “death” don’t seem to belong together in the same sentence. Except, God promises that every saint who dies with faith in Christ is with him now in heaven. “Precious!” Some of you have lost loved ones over the past year. It hurts! The way it usually works is that other people support you in the first days and weeks after the death. They come to the wake or the funeral. But then other people move on to other things. The “saints” are forgotten – except in your constantly aching heart. Know that you are not alone. They are not alone. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Some of you feel closer to death now than ever before. The years are adding up. The sickness or cancer has come back. The storms seem to be stronger. The violence seems to be greater. Death is on our minds – more than just at Halloween. In faith, remember that though death seems like a terrible trick, it’s really results in an unbelievable treat: Life in heaven with Jesus! Today, say a prayer of thanks to God for one of his “saints” who now rejoices with Jesus in heaven. May we, by God’s grace, one day join them there!
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