These are themes that weave through every minute of our lives. They are controlling. There is uncertainty and fear related to both subjects.
Ask anyone you like, no one really wants to die.
Death is the great unknown. Life is all that is known.
Today, I found out about the death of a young friend of mine. She was killed in a car accident. She wasn't even 22! It happened so fast, so unexpected. Why did this happen?
The news speaks almost constantly of death. It happens everywhere! Murders. Suicides. Car accidents. Shootings. Fires, the list goes on. Death is inevitable and unpredictable.
Life
This is more than just breathing moment by moment and having cognitive brain function. True life is eternal life! As believers in Christ, we have the hope of an eternal life with God when we die if we have placed our faith in Jesus alone for salvation. Death has no fear for us (aside from the fear of physical suffering and pain). Death is not the end of our "lives", but the entrance into Life with God! Though we hear of death everywhere around us, we need not fear that end. We sorrow for those who lose loved ones, because physical loss is hard to bear. We rejoice, however, to know that that child of God is in the presence of their heavenly Father.
As I have been traveling around the past month with the singing group Evidence from college, we have been singing the popular song "I will rise". In thinking about these two themes, this song has come to my mind over again.
It starts out by saying, "There's a peace I've come to know, though my heart and flesh my fail." This is the peace of the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. This peace is not found in our circumstances, but only found in the joyful contentment of resting and trusting in God. "There's an anchor for my soul. I can say, 'It is well.'" As a result of God's peace, we can say 'It is well' in the midst of frustrating and difficult times. But what is our anchor? "JESUS has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won. He is risen from the dead!" He is our peace. He is our anchor. He is the promise of eternal life.
Therefore, I don't have to fear death. For when He calls me home, "I will rise, when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagle's wings. Before my God, fall on my knees and rise." In the presence of our Great, Almighty, Omnipotent God, we will join the host of heaven singing, worshiping and praising God. "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'"
"Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads or myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!' And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'" Rev. 5:11-13
This is life!
