Sunday Scripture
Our church family has been burdened with death over the past few months. Some of our sweet senior saints have gone on to be with the Lord and others are imminent. Even as the wife of an embalmer, death is never easy.
There are so many mixed emotions that accompany the passing of a loved one. We want to rejoice because they are now face to face with Jesus Christ Himself. There is disappointment and longing over the separation. And we question our own life and how long it will be before the Lord calls us home, too.
But regardless of age or health, there is comfort for the soul of a Christian woman.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14
God promises us His presence continually and eternally. We walk with Him in life and He will walk us through to death. That promise makes the thought of going home sweeter because we won't have to go alone. We have the great Guide leading the way from now until our last breath. And then the saved are promised rest for our labor in His gracious presence.
Still, we are human and fears of the unknown take over. We think of how we will miss people. There is regret and pain over what we've done in this life, let alone if we're prepared to go on to the next. All of these swirling thoughts distract us from greatest truth of Christ's Resurrection.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
We aren't going to some lonely place separated from everyone. When we die we leave behind this shell all aching and filled with pain. In that final moment we take our last breath on earth and our first breath in Heaven. I can't wait to open my eyes and finally see the face of my Savior. The tears fall even now as I think about that moment so dear to the life of each of us.
There will always be sorrow surrounding death - it is normal to grieve for those we love. But balance that grief with joy over their present state and God's truth becomes clear. One day we will be the ones entering into His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and what a glorious day that will be!
There are so many mixed emotions that accompany the passing of a loved one. We want to rejoice because they are now face to face with Jesus Christ Himself. There is disappointment and longing over the separation. And we question our own life and how long it will be before the Lord calls us home, too.
But regardless of age or health, there is comfort for the soul of a Christian woman.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14
God promises us His presence continually and eternally. We walk with Him in life and He will walk us through to death. That promise makes the thought of going home sweeter because we won't have to go alone. We have the great Guide leading the way from now until our last breath. And then the saved are promised rest for our labor in His gracious presence.
Still, we are human and fears of the unknown take over. We think of how we will miss people. There is regret and pain over what we've done in this life, let alone if we're prepared to go on to the next. All of these swirling thoughts distract us from greatest truth of Christ's Resurrection.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
We aren't going to some lonely place separated from everyone. When we die we leave behind this shell all aching and filled with pain. In that final moment we take our last breath on earth and our first breath in Heaven. I can't wait to open my eyes and finally see the face of my Savior. The tears fall even now as I think about that moment so dear to the life of each of us.
There will always be sorrow surrounding death - it is normal to grieve for those we love. But balance that grief with joy over their present state and God's truth becomes clear. One day we will be the ones entering into His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and what a glorious day that will be!
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