These last few weeks have been very painful and sad ones for me. I am faced with the death of one of my sisters and with a grandmother whose years are slowly fading away as time goes by. Currently, my grandmother is in the hospital due to some weight loss, of being partially dehydrated, and a low blood count. Of course she is 99 years old and the fact that she has lasted this long has been a true blessing from the Lord! Due to her age, dementia is slowly setting in and her short term memory is waning away. She doesn’t eat very well because she thinks she has already eaten. That is where she’s at right now. Her life on this earth has been a rough and long road, but I know that soon her sorrows will be over and a new life will begin for her in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Death is inevitable in this life, but it doesn’t diminish the sorrow and sadness that follows it due to the separation of our loved ones. Yet in all this and with the approach of Easter Sunday, I am reminded of one of the most powerful demonstrations of Jesus, the defeat of death! The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, ‘When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" We are no longer to live in fear of death because death to the believer is not the end, but the beginning! It is merely a doorway through which we can step into the threshold of eternity!
With the reality of these family situations, I have had to take the stand that the Psalmist took as he was facing his enemies on a constant basis and it seemed like they would be upon him at any moment to end his life. In these despairing moments, he finds peace and security in God. Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." He realized that there was nothing he could do to better his situation. All he really needed was to step back and allow God to fight his battles!
Many times we can all become overwhelmed with the stresses of this life and especially when we are faced with the really tough ones, like the passing of a loved one. It doesn’t get any worse than that, but yet, my God is greater than that! His promise to us was that death would no longer be the one to rule in our lives. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even in death, good can always come out because God has a way of turning mourning into laughter!
This week has also brought much joy with a visit from my first granddaughter! I have been the recipient of experiencing both, a passing away and a new life just beginning! Already God is turning my mourning into joy and laughter! He has reminded me once again that all I need to do is to be still, step back, and know that He is God!!
To Him be ALL Power, Glory and Honor forever AMEN!!
James
3/20/2008
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