THE PARADOX OF DEATH
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 (KJV)
On January 1, 2010, my family suffered a shocking loss. It left us all distraught, and hurting. We find ourselves reeling, trying to grasp something to steady us. My cousin, Arlene Shaw, went home to be with the Lord, that day, unexpectedly.
The death of the saints is precious in God's sight, but for those of us who are still here, it can be extremely difficult to process the loss--particularly, when it is unexpected. No time for good-bye's, apologies, or one more chance to say, "I love you, and appreciate you".
Death reminds me of the dichotomous nature of man (Of course, man is a trichotomy, but I am thinking/speaking of the duality of us, now--feeling two very different emotions, at the same time). We feel such sorrow, but at the same time, we rejoice for our loved one who has gone home, and is at rest, with the Lord. If, in fact, the opportunity presented itself, they would never want to come back to this thing we call "life". What we feel (for our loved one who has gone to be with the Lord) is joy unspeakable (and peace that surpasses understanding). Unspeakable, in the sense that we can't explain it to those who don't know Jesus, as we do--it will remain a mystery, until they choose Him, and experience it, too. Without Him, we would only know misery, at such times, but since we do know Him, we have a hope! We will see our loved ones again, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joy isn't predicated on our circumstances; happiness is, though. We can experience blissful joy, when everything around us deems that we should be heartbroken; and even when we are heartbroken, still, the spirit man within us, is able to rejoice and worship God. Joy stands, in spite of pain, hurt and disappointment. This is the second occasion in less than a year, that I found myself wondering, "Why?" if only for a moment. I understand that death, is a natural part of life--because sin is in the world. I also understand that it wasn't God's plan from the beginning, for man to die. But, death is a reality for every one of us--and we will all face it sooner or later, unless Christ appears, first. (And none of us knows when or can estimate our time--no moment is promised to any of us).
The humanity in me, is in pain, right now. Being human, we mourn the loss, because we can no longer, see, touch or hear the speech and laughter of those who have departed this life. And, we miss them. Grief is a normal human reaction to loss--it isn't sinful, but necessary, to begin to learn to live without our loved one. There are no sinful human emotions--God gave them to us; our responses to our emotions can be wrong, but not the emotion, itself. Yes, this is painful--and even more so, for those who are closest to Arlene, her children, her father, sister and brothers, feel the loss more acutely, than those of us in the extended family (as hard as it us, for us!). Oh, but thanks be to God that we are not only human!!! The spirit man is rejoicing for Arlene--she made it over, already! We still face death. The Spirit of God, in me, knows the reality of true life--in the Spirit, not the body; because the body will die (and I will receive a new immortal, nonperishable body), but the spirit, in me, lives forever. I am eternal--and I will proceed into that great portion of life, when my time here on earth is finished, too. That is my reality. Because I have chosen Christ, my eternity is wrapped up in glory! We are all eternal, but we must choose Christ, in order to enter into that rest that He has promised to those of us who love Him and live for Him.
It's beyond our comprehension to process a body that will never die--and a body that will know no pain, no suffering, no illness--just the wonderful glory of God, forever! Without Him, man is still eternal, but will have a body prepared for an eternal death--one that cannot be consumed, but experiences eternal separation from God, and nothing but excruciating pain, forever. "Oh, I want to see Him, and look upon His face...". How about you?
I am glad, and grateful that I know the Comforter, at this time. Grateful, that He is reminding me of His Word and His promises, as I grieve the loss of Arlene (and Ernie, too!). She has already stepped into eternity--she has gone where I must go--where we all have to go. How, will we enter eternity, though? That is determined by how we choose to govern ourselves here, on earth. We are all eternal, but some will live eternally, while others will die/exist eternally, forever separated from God and His love. I can't imagine a life without Christ for a moment; an eternity without Him causes me to shudder.
One of the things that always amazes me is how we, as Christians, think of death. Sometimes, we (seemingly) forget the glorious aspect of the death of the saint. We speak as if (and sometimes, live as if, too) this life is better than being at home with the Lord. We forget that being "absent from the body" means we are gloriously "present with the Lord"! In fact, this is what our earthly journey is all about--reaching that precious prize of being accepted into His presence. This life is simply an opportunity to choose Him and to live for Him, that we might be found worthy to enter into eternal life. I am "living" to live again! Are you???
If you aren't living for Him, I plead with you to choose Christ, so that you can be a part of the glorious Body of Christ, and one day make your home in the heavens, too!
Be sure that your most precious treasure is spiritual, and not carnal (or earthly). You never know when your soul might be required, and death will beckon you. Let your death (and your life, too), be a door into everlasting life. Choose Christ. Make Him your choice, and live triumphantly, and without fear of death.
Love & Blessings,
Lisa
See you in the morning, Arlene!!!
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord."
1 Cor 15:51-58 (ASV)
On January 1, 2010, my family suffered a shocking loss. It left us all distraught, and hurting. We find ourselves reeling, trying to grasp something to steady us. My cousin, Arlene Shaw, went home to be with the Lord, that day, unexpectedly.
The death of the saints is precious in God's sight, but for those of us who are still here, it can be extremely difficult to process the loss--particularly, when it is unexpected. No time for good-bye's, apologies, or one more chance to say, "I love you, and appreciate you".
Death reminds me of the dichotomous nature of man (Of course, man is a trichotomy, but I am thinking/speaking of the duality of us, now--feeling two very different emotions, at the same time). We feel such sorrow, but at the same time, we rejoice for our loved one who has gone home, and is at rest, with the Lord. If, in fact, the opportunity presented itself, they would never want to come back to this thing we call "life". What we feel (for our loved one who has gone to be with the Lord) is joy unspeakable (and peace that surpasses understanding). Unspeakable, in the sense that we can't explain it to those who don't know Jesus, as we do--it will remain a mystery, until they choose Him, and experience it, too. Without Him, we would only know misery, at such times, but since we do know Him, we have a hope! We will see our loved ones again, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Joy isn't predicated on our circumstances; happiness is, though. We can experience blissful joy, when everything around us deems that we should be heartbroken; and even when we are heartbroken, still, the spirit man within us, is able to rejoice and worship God. Joy stands, in spite of pain, hurt and disappointment. This is the second occasion in less than a year, that I found myself wondering, "Why?" if only for a moment. I understand that death, is a natural part of life--because sin is in the world. I also understand that it wasn't God's plan from the beginning, for man to die. But, death is a reality for every one of us--and we will all face it sooner or later, unless Christ appears, first. (And none of us knows when or can estimate our time--no moment is promised to any of us).
The humanity in me, is in pain, right now. Being human, we mourn the loss, because we can no longer, see, touch or hear the speech and laughter of those who have departed this life. And, we miss them. Grief is a normal human reaction to loss--it isn't sinful, but necessary, to begin to learn to live without our loved one. There are no sinful human emotions--God gave them to us; our responses to our emotions can be wrong, but not the emotion, itself. Yes, this is painful--and even more so, for those who are closest to Arlene, her children, her father, sister and brothers, feel the loss more acutely, than those of us in the extended family (as hard as it us, for us!). Oh, but thanks be to God that we are not only human!!! The spirit man is rejoicing for Arlene--she made it over, already! We still face death. The Spirit of God, in me, knows the reality of true life--in the Spirit, not the body; because the body will die (and I will receive a new immortal, nonperishable body), but the spirit, in me, lives forever. I am eternal--and I will proceed into that great portion of life, when my time here on earth is finished, too. That is my reality. Because I have chosen Christ, my eternity is wrapped up in glory! We are all eternal, but we must choose Christ, in order to enter into that rest that He has promised to those of us who love Him and live for Him.
It's beyond our comprehension to process a body that will never die--and a body that will know no pain, no suffering, no illness--just the wonderful glory of God, forever! Without Him, man is still eternal, but will have a body prepared for an eternal death--one that cannot be consumed, but experiences eternal separation from God, and nothing but excruciating pain, forever. "Oh, I want to see Him, and look upon His face...". How about you?
I am glad, and grateful that I know the Comforter, at this time. Grateful, that He is reminding me of His Word and His promises, as I grieve the loss of Arlene (and Ernie, too!). She has already stepped into eternity--she has gone where I must go--where we all have to go. How, will we enter eternity, though? That is determined by how we choose to govern ourselves here, on earth. We are all eternal, but some will live eternally, while others will die/exist eternally, forever separated from God and His love. I can't imagine a life without Christ for a moment; an eternity without Him causes me to shudder.
One of the things that always amazes me is how we, as Christians, think of death. Sometimes, we (seemingly) forget the glorious aspect of the death of the saint. We speak as if (and sometimes, live as if, too) this life is better than being at home with the Lord. We forget that being "absent from the body" means we are gloriously "present with the Lord"! In fact, this is what our earthly journey is all about--reaching that precious prize of being accepted into His presence. This life is simply an opportunity to choose Him and to live for Him, that we might be found worthy to enter into eternal life. I am "living" to live again! Are you???
If you aren't living for Him, I plead with you to choose Christ, so that you can be a part of the glorious Body of Christ, and one day make your home in the heavens, too!
Be sure that your most precious treasure is spiritual, and not carnal (or earthly). You never know when your soul might be required, and death will beckon you. Let your death (and your life, too), be a door into everlasting life. Choose Christ. Make Him your choice, and live triumphantly, and without fear of death.
Love & Blessings,
Lisa
See you in the morning, Arlene!!!
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord."
1 Cor 15:51-58 (ASV)
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