A very sudden and tragic death occurred Thursday. While he was an older man and suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, he was still a great asset to his wife, children, and church. This is not one of those “well, he is finally at rest and his suffering is over” situations. This is more of a “how are we going to get along without him?”
He was stung by a small wasp or bee, no one is quite sure; and then his heart stopped and would not start again. Suddenly, no warning, we are stunned and his wife is in shock.
Where is our hope? When faced with this “reality”, what do we do? Where is our faith now? Do we stand firm or crumple? Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet he shall live”. (John 11:25) Are these just words to us, or is it a solid rock we can stand on?
How precious are these words to us right now! What a guarantee that this is not the end. Sad? Yes. Hurting? Yes. But we do not suffer and sorrow like those who don’t believe in Jesus.
Jesus! What an assurance is ours! He has been through all this and knows just how to help. He died. Apparently cut down without cause. But the grave could not hold him. Death has no fear for those who have linked their life to His life. We know that when Jesus comes back, then we will be raised to live the life that Christ lives. (1 John 3:2) The resurrection of Jesus means everything to us. WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM!
But we don’t have to wait till then. We can live like Him now. If we will give ourselves to Him now, then He will begin His life in us now. We cannot wait till after we die, we must begin now. Jesus triumphed over death just as He triumphed over sin. Just so He wants to identify with us, live in us so closely, that our life here will be His life here. And then His resurrection will be our resurrection. That is hope. That is reality!
