Just a thought: There are certain realities in life we must face (like it or not). One of those realities is death. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Heb 9:27) we may struggle with this thought, but the truth is most people don’t really wrestle with this reality as much as they do with the uncertainty that leads up to it: (the how and when) “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (Js 4:14) I once had the privilege of ministering to a lady who knew her time was short. She told me, “Pastor, I know where I am going and I’m okay with that. It’s the getting there I am afraid of.” She certainly is not alone in that thought process. There is only one remedy for facing this challenging reality and that is in the ability to remove the uncertainty of the eternal aspect of it. I have done many funerals in my time in ministry and I always assure the survivors if your loved one could tell you anything today from where they are; they would say “Be sure you can face one of life’s harshest realities with the certainty of when it comes to you, you know where it is going to take you!” For those who have settled this reality with eternal certainty (though we miss them greatly) they would not want to come back, but they would love to know you will one day join them where they are. Here is the remedy for facing life’s reality with certainty: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, [so in Christ all will be made alive]. (emphasis mine)(1 Cor 15:20-23) Jesus said it best when he told Martha at the grave side of her brother: “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? (Jn 11:25-26) There are certain realities we must face in life, but this is one we can face with complete certainty. For those who have put their trust in Christ have the promise of eternal life (Rom. 6:23). For those of us who have lost loved ones with this certainty, we will miss them; but we have joy in knowing that being absent from us means being in the presence of our Lord (2 Cor. 5:8) and that one day we will join them and have them with us for all eternity. But what about you; if your loved one said to you today, “Be sure you can face one of life’s harshest realities with the certainty of when it comes to you, you know where it is going to take you!” Are you sure? If so rejoice in that certainty. If not take a moment right now to put your faith in Jesus because; there are certain realities in life we must face (like it or not), but this is one we can face with certainty.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 11:21:16 +0000