Death

It’s over in the blink of an eye.

Our lives, which seem so permanent and stationary, are but a moment in time.

Here today and gone the next, those left are grieving, pondering, and reflecting.

Death is so difficult. The pain is deep, excruciating, and unique in the most anguishing way.

 It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

In the beginning, when all was good and right, paradise was here on earth and God walked with man. There was no reason to mourn before death, or so many of us have come to think. 

Oh, but this grief, this pain, this unimaginable heart-wrenching pang didn’t originate as an effect of the first death in human history. No, it was a result of the reason for this plague of death that affected each and every created thing on this earth. 

God, the Almighty, the Holy One, the Perfect Creator, Sustainer, Deliverer, and friend…He experienced in a way we can never imagine, grief. This perfect creation that he made, the ones that he had given everything to (with the exception of one tree), traded it all for a lie. The tempter, the Father of all lies, whispered doubt in their ears..”Did God really say?” 

What appeared to be an exchange for fruit, was an exchange of life for death. In that, the Master and Creator of everything felt agony that we can only imagine. He understands our pain over death because he experienced the death of a perfect relationship with His creation and creation itself became tainted. What he had made perfect and holy was marred.

In that moment in the garden, when all was perfect, all was right, humanity bowed their knee to Satan, the Father of lies. The fruit looked so beautiful, delicious, and tempting. However, it brought nothing but destruction, and these hard feelings and circumstances that we call grief.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but it is. This is the reality that we are experiencing.

The story doesn’t end there, though. The same love that was used as he spoke this world into existence, would stop at nothing to remove the curse of sin and death from His beloved creation. 

In order to do this though, He would have to face death Himself. This perfect God personally experienced life on earth as 100% God and 100% man. He had this plan in the garden and it was perfectly executed in the life, death, and burial of Jesus Christ.

This same God who grieved at the birth of sin into this world made a perfect plan so that we who experience the effects of physical death can have hope and a future. Our surrender to Jesus, the unblemished son of God, takes away the punishment we deserve.

This King, Jesus, left His throne to rescue us. He traded the sound of angels praises in a throne room, for the mocking and jeers of the crowds. Leaving the home of eternal glory, he came to earth with no place to lay his head. He gave it all…for us.

Death has no power over those who have traded the lies of Satan for the truth of God’s word. Our King, Jesus, represents us before the Holy God who holds in His hands the power of life and death. Submission to His perfect plan of surrender and righteousness, found in Jesus Christ alone brings life everlasting.

Death comes quickly. None of us know the day or the hour that we will take that last breath. Where we open our eyes after that last breath is taken makes all the difference. 

For those in Christ, as those eyes are opened, the beauty of their Savior’s face is what they shall see.

Finally, all the ill emotions of this world are gone in an instant. All is right. All is good, very good once again.