Today I have been thinking about death. Most of us have lost someone dear to us. Someone that we miss.
I think that of all the difficulties I have had to face in my life, the death of someone close was the hardest. The darkest. It seems so final. The one you loved and cared for is no longer here to love and care for. You won’t hear that voice again. You won’t laugh with them, sing with them, hug them. It’s done. That person that held part of your heart is gone forever and they took that part of your heart with you when they left, leaving an open wound.
Right?
But that’s just not true. It feels true. But it’s not true. When Jesus came, He conquered sin. He took all of our sin upon Himself, took the punishment and made us whiter than snow. But Jesus did something else, too. He conquered death. He destroyed it.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Now, lets see it in context: ( 1 Corinthians 15)
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are raised with the notion that death is permanent. We act like what Jesus did was just for show. Just an idea. Victory over death. It’s a nice thought. But it feels like I have lost the one I love forever. So final.
But here’s the truth. Grief is normal. It’s a process we need to go through. There is a time when we will go without seeing or touching or hearing the one we love and we will miss them terribly. The pain is real. For those of you who are grieving, I wrap my arms around you and give you my love. It is not an easy road.
Though as permanent as it feels, it is not. We who believe that Jesus conquered sin and death, can leave behind the notion that we were raised with, that death is permanent and that the one we lost is gone forever. It is simply not true. If anything, physical death is a beginning, not an end. We leave the anchor of our physical bodies behind and enter into limitless life and freedom and joy and light.
Not lost and gone forever. There will be a great reunion. So much laughing, hugging, singing, stories, love. They await us. We await the day that we reunite. We will rejoice so freaking greatly.
I want to live like I know this isn’t all there is. For me. For anyone. I want to shine the light of truth. I want to love with the love of God. For me, these things are impossible. But for GOD IN ME, they’re not even difficult. For God, in each of us, it’s a piece of cake.
I love you all.
