It's So Much!
It all started a few weeks ago when within three days, one friend lost her adult son to Covid, a dear friend lost her husband in a tragic accident. And my Mom lost her best buddy and neighbor, within a week, to Covid. He was a dear friend to our family. He and Mom looked out for each other and had a special friendship! My heart was so heavy for these families and I prayed for them, and still do, at every thought. Death often catches us off guard and grieves us because the person was just smiling, loving their friends and loving life!
God gives us life and God takes it away through death. He knows our number of days when we are born. So while it is untimely to us it is not to God. God's timeline is different than ours. As my pastor said recently, no one likes death. Timeliness of death has to do with one's relationship with God. We think of how many years a person has been on earth. I am sure that God has been preparing each of these people for this time through the years. Romans 8: 28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." I believe God speaks to us through these deaths.
God can teach us so much from one death. I am sure millions this past two years have stopped and thought about how precious life is. And how fragile it is. Untimely deaths remind us that life is uncertain. James 4: 13-14 says, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit.' - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.'" I am heartbroken for these families and friends but I am overjoyed for each of them to now stand in the presence of God. Revelation 21: 4 tell us, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." For a Christian there is no greater hope than that of being in the presence of the Lord!
I pray that God will speak to many through these deaths. I thank God that He does not waste anything but uses, even death, to prepare some for their final day. "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." John 6: 40 Let this death be a reminder that we must be prepared. We are not promised tomorrow on earth but we are promised eternity with our Savior if we accept His gift of salvation.
What a tribute to these loved ones who do a mighty work for Jesus Christ in their death! Join me in praying for the families and friends who have lost loved ones. Pray for those whose lives will be changed through their deaths.