It's All Part of Life

Jesus wept over the loss of His friend Lazarus even though He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Death isn't something we talk about much but it is a part of life that we can't avoid. Do we keep silent because it's too hard to think about or is it because we like to think we're immortal even though there's only been only person who has broken the grips of death? Jesus is our answer. And I'm not talking about our cute Sunday School answer. 

Jesus was familiar with death. I don't think He was a huge fan of it though because whenever He came across a funeral, He stopped the funeral and raised the person back to life. I wonder how soon in His life did He have the knowledge that He was born to die. Did He know in the manger? Did He know when He stayed behind in Jerusalem at 12? Surely He knew before the wedding at Cana. 

We also remember that He was part of creation and helped form humankind in His own image. He was part of the life-giving breath that initially filled Adam's lungs. In Adam's first breath, he breathed in God and exhaled God. Jesus witnessed the Fall. He saw Satan tempt Eve and Adam. For the first time in history, He experienced the consequences of sin. That consequence was death. First, the death of the animal used to weave clothing for Adam and Eve. Secondly, the death of the perfect relationship between God and man. And finally, the physical death of His creation, His likeness, the possessor of His very breath. 

Isaiah 53 tells us years before He was born what Jesus' fate would be. 'He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Jim was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.' (Is. 53:3-5).

And why would He be put through such pain and agony? Isaiah 53:6 tells us why. 'All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.'

God, the Father, placed all our sin on Him that day to restore the relationship that He lost in Eden. Death has been crushed. Life eternal is ours. So, I don't fear death. I am not in a hurry for it to happen though. 

A very close friend of mine died last night. It hurts. The pain isn't for my friend. He is physically whole. He is sin free. He's with Jesus. The pain is for us. Those left behind, his wife, family and friends.

Yes, we grieve but we don't grieve because we have no hope. Psalm 30:5b says, 'Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.' So because Jesus conquered death for us, our experiences with death are bittersweet. Bitter from our temporal view but sweet as seen through everlasting eyes. 

All these words and it still doesn't make sense but I did get these thoughts and feelings out which was the purpose for this blog site to begin with. Thanks for weeding through my ramblings. 

Are You Tired Yet?

When we go on a long trip inevitably someone will ask, usually within the first hour of an 8 hour journey, 'are we there yet?'  We've been on this long COVID19 journey and I feel like asking, 'are you tired yet?' I know I am. Quarantining is exhausting. Quarantining is stressful. Quarantining is yucky at times. Some days it's hard to get motivated then, some nights it's hard to fall asleep because there's so much swarming, not related to murder hornets, around in my brain. These are different and difficult times. 

Here are a couple of reassuring thoughts.

    1. God is the same. He never changes. He's constant as the sunrise. He still loves. He still forgives. He still saves. He still hears. He still does everything that God has always done. 

    2. God calls us to Him. 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.' Matthew 11:28-30

Do you remember crawling into your parents' bed in the middle of the night because you couldn't fall asleep in your own bed? You'd snuggle up against mom or dad or you'd sprawl out between them almost pushing them out of bed and then quickly, quietly enter lala land. That is the same peaceful rest that your Father calls you to today, tomorrow, next week, next month, whenever. Hear Him say to you, 'Hey, (insert your name), come on into my room and find your peaceful, calming sleep. Rest for your body and rest for your soul and spirit as well. 

Good night!