Death

This morning I received the news that a young woman I went to school with had died. Though I don't know all the details and haven't had any contact with her over the years since we left school I do know that she left behind family and friends that cared about her very much. She grew up in Lucasville and went to the same school as me. There were people who worried about her, prayed for her and depended on her. She was the same age as me, she had children, parents, grandparents...so, if all these factors were the same, what brought her death before mine? How can I be so arrogant to live my life every day like I have a million more to waste?

Over the years I have seen death more times than I would ever want to in my lifetime. I've lost a cousin and a grandparent. Close friends have lost relatives as well. I've prayed for the dear lives of little children, only to have to stand by as their parents grieve over their deaths. I've heard of numerous people my age dying...one in particular of an undetected heart problem that took him suddenly. Though I act as though I could not possibly be next...there is no way for me to know that.

Though I cannot know when I will die....I can know without a doubt where I will go when I die. Because I have trusted Jesus Christ with my life and I believe in his death and resurrection I don't have to fear death. Though my time could come today or 60 years from now...I will always know where I will be when that moment comes. Since I have this confidence in my own life, what worries me most when I hear of tragic deaths is...what if that were my unsaved family member or what if that were my neighbor that I never took the time to talk to about Jesus? It is not so terrible for me to live my life as if I will never die as it is to ignore the fact that it could be the people around me who have never heard about Jesus.

So, when faced with death, I pray that you will 1. Reflect on your own life...do you know where you will go when you die? Do you live as if your death will never come? and 2. Reflect on the lives of your family, friends and neighbors...is there someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus? Speak to them about it before it is too late.

I Will Rise

There's a peace I've come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won He is risen from the dead




[Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles' wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise I will rise




There's a day that's drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won He is risen from the dead



[Chorus]



And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb"

And I hear the cry of every longing heart, "Worthy is the Lamb"[x2]



[Chorus]



I heard this song the other day on the way home from Cincinnati after a long day of tests for Mia. We spent hours at the hospital watching kids being pushed in wheelchairs, wearing masks, hearing aids and leg braces, and pulling IV polls along with them...and these were just the ones that were there for check-ups or would be leaving the hospital very soon. From our experience with Mia's surgery in May, I knew there were hundreds more who were not leaving the hospital that day because they were under much more urgent care and there were even some who would never leave that hospital in this life. My heart aches every time we have to make another visit to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and not just because I hate to see my little girl in pain but because I see all these precious little children walking around and think of the ones that are upstairs in their hospital rooms struggling with whatever is ailing them and I feel there is absolutely nothing I can do.

But as I drove home on Wednesday, listening to Chris Tomlin sing, "...no more sorrow, no more pain..." I began to realize that there truly is coming a day when there will be no more wheelchairs, or medical masks, or hearing aids, or leg braces, or IVs, or heart defects, or spinal surgeries and absolutely no death because Jesus has truly overcome and the grave is completely overwhelmed. The victory has already been won because he rose from the dead. And though heart and flesh may fail here on earth we know that one day those who know Jesus will leave this failing world and join him in heaven. And there is certainly something I can do about these sick children and all the people who are struggling in this life...spread the good news that heaven awaits them if they turn to Jesus and trust in his death and resurrection. This life is hard, but one day those of us who know Jesus will rise to be with him and leave the hardship of this life forever.