A friend admonished me for speaking favorably of death the other day. I didn’t realize that I spoke favorably of it, I don’t think of it in that way. I’m sorry if I misled anyone.
I’ve had numerous operations in my life, some came with a very painful recovery period. The largest bone in our body is the femur. Some folks die just from the shock of breaking it. Mine snapped like a twig in a car crash. I didn’t know I could endure pain like that event. It took a 12-hour operation to put my leg back together with a metal rod being driven down the center of the broken bones so my leg would eventually have support when I put weight on it again. The next day I felt excruciating pain which took weeks and months to subside.
That operation is but a distant memory now and I rarely think of it anymore. I view death in similar terms. I needed that operation to live and without it I would have died. I knew going into the operating room that initially it would not be pleasant, but it would result in a pain-free existence once I got through it. Life and physical death are similar. I cannot go to my true home in heaven without going through death on earth first.
Death is inevitable for all of us. Some die young and some live to a ripe old age, but in the end, we all succumb to death. There is a saying that growing old is not for sissies and I can attest to that, but I would take it a step further and say life on this earth is not for sissies. Sure, there are moments of tremendous happiness, but sin manages to manifest itself in pain, sorrow, grief, disappointments and no one is immune. As a result, people of faith spend their entire lives desiring to be in heaven, and yet ironically when they die and go there, many wail and cry.
Huh?
The worldview of death is the end of our physical lives. I view the end as the beginning. Jesus said, “Fear not for I am with you!” He will walk through the valley of the shadow of death with us at the time of our death and there can be nothing to fear with Him by our side. It is interesting that God referred to death as a “shadow” which is completely harmless. A shadow runs from light and is always behind us. We walk towards the warmth of God’s light assured that death and sin will never be a scourge to us again. The shadow flees from light until it completely disappears. It is as though it was never there.
Call me crazy but I look forward to that day with great anticipation. I’m in good company, the Apostle Paul felt the same way, but he realized he had a job to do before his promotion. Part of my job is to help my family, friends, acquaintances, and even those whom I’ve never even met and try to influence them to choose God over the world. Along the way I enjoy the happy moments, especially being with my family, but over time nothing remains unspoiled on this earth. Death will come quickly enough but one blessed day I will walk away from the pain of this sinful world and life will truly begin and this time will never end . . .
Psalm 23:4 reminds us that we have nothing to fear in death even though we may feel overwhelmed by it. The Lord is our Shepherd, He knows what He’s doing, and He promises He will guide us through the valleys until we reach the sunny, open field on the other side. He is with us and won’t ever leave us. Yes, I anticipate that moment of being with Him. He is my good Shepherd who will guide me to green pastures.
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!