We come to such a place with three questions above all others. First, where is the one we love, now? Is death the end? Are they in that coffin, buried in that grave? Is this the end?

When Mark Twain buried his beloved daughter Olivia's body he placed on her grave this epitaph: "Warm summer sun, shine kindly here; Warm southern wind, blow softly here; Green sod, lie light, lie light; good night, dear heart. Good night. Good night." He was sure that she was there, that this was all there is. Was he right?

Our text begins with a secret only Christians can share:

"Listen," Paul says. This is a Greek imperative, a command.

Why listen? Because "I tell you a mystery." "Mystery" means something no human can know except by direct revelation from God. Paul says, "I'm about to tell you one of God's secrets." So we bend our shoulders together, turn our ear to his lips, and listen with rapt attention.

Here it is: "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed." "We" shows that this mystery, this promise, is for believers, and only for us. We will not all "sleep," Paul's common word for Christian death. But we will all be "changed."

How long does it take? "In a flash"—the Greek word means a unit of time so small it cannot be divided. No reincarnation, or purgatory, or evolution here—instantly, in the quickest possible moment of time.

We are "raised imperishable," he promises. From death to life, from grief to glory, from earth to heaven, from grave to God.

So we know that the one we loved who loved Jesus is with him right now.

Jesus promised us, "whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:26). He promised the thief dying at his side, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

So Paul could say, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23). He was sure: "We would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).

If the one who died is a child, that person has all his or her life been close to God. That child never sinned, never broke his or her relationship with God, and is with God now. Jesus was very clear on this: "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Mt 19.14).

The one you love never died, but is in paradise, with Christ, at home. And God's word promises that for them, "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" (Revelation 21:4-5).

And know that for them, it will be only a moment before they see all of us who know Christ as our Lord. God and his heavenly dwelling stand beyond time. He transcends it, and so do those who live with him in heaven. Revelation 10:6, speaking of heaven, says in the original Greek language, "time shall no longer be." For us it may be years, but for them only a moment until they see us again with our Father in heaven.

So know that the one you love is loved by God, this very moment. Imagine what it must be like for them, dwelling eternally in the glories of God's perfect heaven. I often share at memorial services these words:

Think of steeping on shore and finding it heaven,

Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's

Of breathing new air and finding it celestial,

Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality;

Of passing through a tempest to a new and unknown ground,

Of waking up well and happy and finding it home.

This is where they are, this moment, with God.