A couple of days ago a friend asked me if my son was baptized before he died. When I told him he wasn’t he asked how I knew my son was in heaven if he hadn’t been baptized with holy water before passing away. I knew that I believed my son was in heaven but suddenly realized that I wasn’t entirely sure why I believed that or that I could explain it to another person. I’ve since spent some time thinking about the question, looking up some Bible verses, and talking with my wife about it. I decided to write down why I believe my son is in heaven and then post it here on my blog.
The Bible doesn’t really talk about this issue directly, but it does give us some clues that we use as the basis for our belief.
God desires that all people be saved.
God cares deeply about little children. In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus calls a little child over to Him and uses the child to explain a few things to His disciples. In verse 14 He says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
To accept God’s gift of salvation a person needs to have understanding of a few concepts, namely those of sin, God’s perfectness, and God’s grace. If a person does not understand what sin is, and that they themselves are a sinner, and that God has offered them the gift of eternal life through Jesus, then they cannot make the decision to accept God’s gift.
As infants are not mature enough to understand these things, they cannot accept or reject God. Since they haven’t rejected God and we know God cares deeply about them we then believe that God takes them to heaven when they die.
There is one example in the Bible that seems to back this up, and it is found in II Samuel chapter 12. After David’s child had died, he said the following:
I am confident that my son, Uriah, is in heaven and I am looking forward to the day when I will join him in that blessed place.
The Bible doesn’t really talk about this issue directly, but it does give us some clues that we use as the basis for our belief.
God desires that all people be saved.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4)Nevertheless, many people reject the grace of God and the gift of salvation that He offers them.
God cares deeply about little children. In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus calls a little child over to Him and uses the child to explain a few things to His disciples. In verse 14 He says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
To accept God’s gift of salvation a person needs to have understanding of a few concepts, namely those of sin, God’s perfectness, and God’s grace. If a person does not understand what sin is, and that they themselves are a sinner, and that God has offered them the gift of eternal life through Jesus, then they cannot make the decision to accept God’s gift.
As infants are not mature enough to understand these things, they cannot accept or reject God. Since they haven’t rejected God and we know God cares deeply about them we then believe that God takes them to heaven when they die.
There is one example in the Bible that seems to back this up, and it is found in II Samuel chapter 12. After David’s child had died, he said the following:
...While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?David believed that he would join his son some day, and this could only happen if his infant son had gone to heaven.
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (II Samuel 12:22-23)
I am confident that my son, Uriah, is in heaven and I am looking forward to the day when I will join him in that blessed place.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall 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 so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Hi Jesse,
I just happend to browse through your Ancestry family tree to check for updates on the geneaology and came across info on Uriah. I then googled and came across your blog. I'm so very sorry about your loss. (I'm assuming this is your baby? I can't see all info as Ancestry is hiding the story you posted saying it's private). Do we know why Uriah was called home so early? In my church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) it has been said that sometimes these children are just too pure to stay here so God calls them home to keep them safe. They wait for us there while we complete our earthly mission here. Their spirits live on. (I know this is true as I've felt the influence of depaterd loves ones from time to time. It's a real thing). We can be with our families forever. Having lost several early pregnancies my heart goes out to your family. I share in your loss. May you feel the love and prayers of those around you during this difficult time. God bless your family.