By Danny Minton

One of the ways the strength of someone’s faith shines is when they know they are facing death, either their own or a loved one’s. I look back at so many families that I have counseled during the time of death and find myself often surrounded by people whose faith in God and the promise of Heaven helped them make it through those trying times. People who hold to the promised hope of being in Heaven with God possess an inner peace that strengthens their faith in what awaits them when they close their eyes one last time. The following is a conversation from 2013 between young 4-year-old Silas Edenfield and his mother. It’s a lesson on pure, unwavering faith.

Silas: “Oh, I just love Heaven.”
“And I wish I was there all the time.”

Mother: “What’s Heaven gonna be like?”

Silas: “Hmmm…I’m not sure.”

Mother: “Are you going to get a new body in Heaven?”

Silas: “Yes.”

Mother: “What’s it gonna be like? What’s your new body gonna be like?”

Silas: “With no cancer.”
“And…I won’t be sick ever!”

Mother: “That’s awesome! Are you gonna be alone in Heaven?”

Silas: “Nope! God will be with me.”

Mother: “Yeah.”

Silas: “And…you know what’s my most favorite part about Heaven?”

Mother: “What’s your most favorite part about Heaven?”

Silas: “That…That everything…that, that, that; That the streets are gold.”

Mother: “The streets are gold?”

Silas: “Yeah.”

Mother: “Yeah, cool. I love you.”

Silas: “And the next favorite part are is, is that everything is so great in Heaven.”

Mother: “Yeah? Cool.”

Silas: “And…and Jesus and God will be with me.”

Mother: “Right.”

Silas: “Finished.”

As I reread the conversation, it dawned on me that Silas finished his conversation on faith with one of the same words of Jesus on the cross. Before he passed away from this life, Jesus said, “It is finished.” A promise fulfilled by the gift of God’s son was fulfilled three days later when he arose from the dead. Silas said, “Finished.” Four days later, he was in the arms of the risen Savior.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4 (NASB)

Danny Minton is a former Elder and minister at Southern Hills Church of Christ