Death and Grief

The Last Enemy

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, (ESV)

We will all face it. It will come. Its dark tendrils encircling us. Its cold breath moving slowly over us drawing us ever further into its icy grip. We cannot escape. We cannot run. We cannot hide. We will drive the ever present reality of this dark specter to the very back of our minds, ignoring it until we can run no longer. Our eyes grow dim and our legs grow weary. We can no longer escape  judgement day. We can no longer defer the payment we are to receive as the sons of Adam.  The shadow may come quickly or slowly, peacefully or violently, but it will come.

We will say our last goodbye. We will have our last meal. We will say ” I love you ” one final time and have our last kiss. Our eyes will close to see no more in this present world.

We can cry, we can fume, we can shake our fists at Heaven and earth to no avail for we deserve our reward. We deserve death. We deserve the grave. The very best of our deeds are tainted and corrupted by sin and we cannot claim innocence when standing before the just Judge. We came from the dust and to the dust we shall return as the breath of life departs from our bodies.

We will Grieve

When death comes to our homes, when it touches those we love, we will grieve. We will grieve time no longer to be had together. We will grieve missed opportunities and wasted moments. We will grieve senseless arguments and futile grudges that pride did not let us put away. We will grieve over those lost too soon and those that life carried far away.

We will cry and laugh. Shout and whisper. We will console and be consoled but life will never be the same. In this world we will never see their smile, hear their laugh, or feel their touch. We will cry ourselves to sleep and awaken to find that the world continues, time marching ever onward with so many seemingly oblivious to our hurt. To the ache and pain that lingers. To the shadows that darken our days.
Our grief Is not without Hope

Romans 6:23 b

but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 4:13
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (ESV)

The shadows will not and cannot last for those in Christ. The Last enemy, death, has been defeated. Though we will face it death has no power. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we do not have to fear this
evil. He is with us. He carries us. He strengthens us. The Spirit is our Comforter who never leaves us.

This hope is not without foundation or cause. It is not a leap of faith into the darkness or the hedging of our bets.  He, Christ Jesus, has risen and conquered death and for those united to Him by faith we have the promise of eternal life. The wages of our sin have been paid, our debt is gone, and the curse broken.

Though our eyes close in death and darkness they will open to life and glorious light. Though we grieve and mourn for a time a great and wonderful reunion is on the horizon. It is coming. Jesus is returning and He is bringing those saints who have fallen asleep with Him.

They will be raised for death has no hold on them. Our elder brother is the firstfruits of the resurrection and what was sown in death will be raised in life. This mortality will put on immortality and this corruption will become incorruptible. Death will be no more and our grieving will end. The victory is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have hope and it is in Christ. We have assurance and it is in Christ.  He who began a good work in us will complete it as He is the author and perfecter of our faith.

If you do not have this hope call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. The call has gone out to repent and believe and ignorance cannot be claimed. Repent and believe and be a part of this great reunion of all believers from all times.

Sola Deo Gloria