Some thoughts on death and dying…
2nd April 2005
I feel like the events of this week have caused the world consider death much more than we normally do and prefer to do. The death of Terry Schiavo forced us to think about the end of our own lives and what we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. Discussions with some people at church this week came back to the fact that as Christians we have so much to look forward to beyond this world. We’re going to meet Jesus and be with God for eternity! How great is that? We think this world is great – and it really is full of blessings. But God’s told us over and over in His Word that this earth is just a shadow of what’s in store for us.
But as wonderful as we know it will be, there’s still considerable fear at the thought of getting there – the process of death. I think the death of Pope John Paul II has been very exemplary. I can’t think of anyone on the earth who would be watched more closely, espeically as the end of life draws near. And as his life waned, he was an example of peace. I hope that as people watched and prayed for him this week, they take this lesson away from his death. He walked into the presence of his Lord in peace, knowing Who was waiting for him.
In the words of Jesus,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me… Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
–John 14:1-7, 27
Leave a Reply