Over the weekend our church family was impacted by an intruder. A 17 year old student in our youth group died ... suddenly, unexpectantly. His immediate family is devastated by the loss of a son and a brother. Our students are crushed at the loss of a peer and a friend. Our church family hurts for them. And I am angry. That's right . . . I am mad! But, I have no bone to pick with God, for my anger is not directed at him. No, I am mad about sin. SIN ... our rebellion against God. For it is OUR sin that opened the door for the intruder of death to enter our world . . . and eventually our lives (see Romans 5:12 and Romans 6:23). When death pushed open the door of this family's lives over the weekend . . . his intrusion left pain, sorrow and heartache beyond imagination in its wake.
Last night, as a group of us gathered in a circle, many clutching a fistfull of tissues, I talked a bit about how death is so unnatural. It was not part of God's original design for us. No. We brought all of this upon ourselves. But because we were never wired to deal with death, when death intrudes, we hurt. We hurt bad! BUT at the same time GOD tells us that because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, even though death for now still maintains its sting, that's all it is. For we will have the ultimate victory over death as we place our faith and trust in the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)!!! As Jesus himself told Mary who had just lost her brother Lazarus to this grim intruder, "I am the resurrection and the life.Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
My friends, do YOU believe this? This young man who passed into eternity did. And he is now in a better place (Philippians 1:23). If you have any questions about how you can be prepared when the intruder of death comes knocking at your door, PLEASE check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We Must All Make.
Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj
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