(This article was originally written over at my Wordpress blog on September 15, 2010. The pain we feel is still evident but we know she's with the Father now....)
Last weekend, F (Lisa) M went home to be with our Lord and Savior. It was so unexpected, unwarranted, unexplainable and misunderstood. How could God take someone away from their husband, children, mother, father, sisters, brothers, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends so suddenly? Leaving us all in utter shock? Here’s the answer to that question…..it’s not for us to know!
To be painfully frank, God doesn’t have to give justifiable cause or send a sign as to why she died without our being prepared because well, He’s God! God even told us in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord”. This being the case, what other choice do we have than to completely and unequivocally trust Him? We must do so as He will give us peace when we lack understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 states it best: “TRUST in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. Then, Philippians 4:7 says: “And the PEACE of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
Because we have no way of knowing what death “feels” like, we often fear it. None of us know what’s on the other side, thus fear of the unknown is expected. Children of God, we cannot be with Him until we die so therefore, death is necessary. Have you ever heard that "to live is to die and to die is to live"? Well, let that marinate for a minute and realize that there’s innumerable truth in this statement.
Death is only fearful to those who DO NOT TRUST GOD! God already knew that death would not be perceived as pleasant but would seem intolerable and dreaded to those of us left behind. This is why we have His Word (Jesus Christ) to comfort us in these difficult times. Just as King David knew and expressed in his Psalms, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they COMFORT me”, may we also know this trust in and dependence upon our Father!
I’m blogging this today because I’d like to reassure you that death is not the end, but is the beginning (for those of us who are in Christ Jesus) of an everlasting life of happiness. He has prepared a place for us dear ones. But know this, God will not force us to accept His Son as our Savior. Consequently, failure to do so will reap its’ reward, that’s for sure.
Now with that said, it is not my place to say who will make it to heaven and who won’t. Only YOU, through the free will that God has given you, can choose where your final resting place will be. Heaven or hell is YOUR choice to make. I am thoroughly convinced however, that Lisa made the right choice. Family and friends, we will see her again if we too make the unquestionable choice to love and believe in Jesus Christ.
Let us take the oath today to have a relationship with Him and gain the peace He promises to give. It is undeniable that if we’re granted a long life of abundance, we will surely attest to the deaths of more loved ones and friends. But, we can stand steadfast in His grace & mercy with assurance of our salvation and heaven bound destination!
