“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
Death is Inevitable!
I probably haven’t experienced death, funerals, and burials as often as most people. I was a sophomore in high school, 15-years old, when I experienced my first death, and it was my favorite uncle who had been in a fatal car crash. It was a weird experience and I felt like a fish out of water watching my family deal with grief and funeral arrangements. In the 11 years that followed, I didn’t think much about death. It was business as usual—going to school, church and youth group, graduating high school (making some very poor choices) and getting on with life. I certainly wasn’t walking with or following God’s way! Hey, I didn’t live at home anymore and could “do my own thing”, right?
My next funeral experience hit way closer to home and my heart—watching my awesome 51-year old mother’s one-year fight with ovarian cancer, and her subsequent death. Many times during that year I played “Let’s make a deal” with God—“Let me die (I’m 26 and a rotten person) and not my mom (a true believer and servant).” Thankfully, the extreme grief and devastation drew our family closer, along with the peace that came with the absolute knowledge Mom was in heaven! I might add, if God had given me what I asked for, trading places with my mom, I would not have become the believer I am today and I would not be spending eternity in heaven to be able to see my mom again one day.
It took me another 11 years after my mother’s death to truly profess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior (I am one hardheaded person!) I have been a Christian for 26 years now and have been to various funerals, the latest loss being the recent sudden death and burial of my Christian step-mom who was “my second mom” to me for 33 years. Death never gets any easier. Grief and loss are very real, but as I get older and grow deeper in my commitment to understanding God’s Word and His promises, and thus grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord, I have a different attitude and a peace “which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), even about my own death. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
My sister and I have been faithful and loving daughters to our wonderful father who has been in a Senior Dementia Home these past two years, awaiting his promotion to heaven. Some days he knows who we are and some days he doesn’t. Dementia is a horrible disease—for the person experiencing it and family members who stand by and watch the person disappear, little by little. But, just the complete knowledge of my daddy closing his eyes one day in death, and opening them in the presence of Jesus, with no more injustice, evil, sickness, pain (physical and emotional), tears, or sadness, and that we ALL will be in heaven together one day, is so incredibly wonderful and comforting. This is the peace, truth, and joy that I hang onto. Every time I hear of a believer’s death—YES, they have been promoted to heaven!
Dear Lord, I can’t imagine facing death without You. Help me make it a priority to tell others of Your love and sacrifice before it is too late. You want none to perish but have everlasting life! In Jesus name, Amen.