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This last week has been a rather tough one with many sick and dying from COVID and various other illnesses. It has been hard to bear especially for those suddenly ill and gone quickly after we hear of their plight. Some may say they have gone too soon and it does feel that way but we know that God gives life and takes away physical life according to His plan and His timing is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6). Even though we cry tears of love in pain and grief we know that we will be reunited in the future with those who have gone before us (1 Corinthians 15:50-51). In stark contrast, imagine not knowing we will live again in God's Kingdom -- that would be tragic, sad and awful to bear and this was my life when my mother died in 1974 while I was in my teenage years. I never knew this, so once mum was buried I truly believed that was the last time I would ever see her again. Death was a hugely mysterious concept to me covered over in superstition and false ideas. Now imagine being aware of life after death according to what God says in the Bible. To be able to declare what I learnt after becoming a Christian on matters pertaining to death would be a most welcome understatement -- it now all made sense to me for why should people live and have loving relationships only for these to be taken away all too soon? What is the purpose of that? Now this makes absolutely no sense but that is what the vast majority of people believe -- and that is what my physical father told me after mum died. Those times for me were dark and terribly sad with no hope at all and yet somehow I coped by busying myself in living life for I was still in school -- and life goes on as they say.
It is a huge blessing to know our loved ones will live again, and for those of us first generation Christians, they will do so most likely at the second resurrection when the vast majority of the world's population will go through the Great White Throne Judgement, which is referred to in Revelation 20:11-15. Not only will my mother and father rise up in this judgement but the Queen of Sheba will too (Matthew 12:42 and Luke 11:31). This is such wonderful news giving us great hope and a certain life sustaining anticipation until we are reunited, and for that I am eternally grateful to God. As marvellous as all this is, there is even more incredible news to reveal about life after death for those of us who will attain the honour of God's first resurrection. We have known many who await their change as detailed in scripture from 1 Corinthians 15:52-58 and therefore their next waking moment when they rise into the clouds with Christ will be the start of their eternal life in spirit bodies.
How magnificent and awe inspiring our great Almighty God is, for nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:27). We therefore join as one to give God great praise in honouring His saints, the elect, with such great glory for a time in the future when He deems appropriate (Psalm 149). We read and are comforted by Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" for this is so beautiful to meditate upon as we mourn the recent loss of one of God's faithful shepherds in Mr. Ken Martin. He suffered from a brain aneurysm and had family surrounding his bedside before his death at 5.05 PM Georgia time on the Sabbath of 21 August 2021. This is how it should be as we spare a thought for all those suffering and dying alone because of refusal to allow family or friends at their hospital bedside due to protocols related to COVID. In my opinion it is very wicked to deny people this basic fundamental comfort and right in their last hours. Not being able to see, visit or speak to my mother on the day she died still painfully resonates with me to this day.
We realise that not everyone will live a long life even though many consider living long a huge blessing. The Bible says in Psalm 90:10 "The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away". Therefore living 70 years is a great blessing and for me, it is rapidly approaching. If my life was cut off beforehand by any illness, accident, or even the dreaded COVID, then do not be sorry for me because I will be awaiting the change after my final sleep (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and my next waking moment should be the most thrilling to rise in the air to meet Christ. There is nothing better than this except for living eternally with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God where death is a thing of the past and has been vanquished once and for all. Then there is the added bonus of being secured into a place of safety due to death where no man can harm and no supernatural force such as the devil can interfere and tempt. For all those deemed by God to be ready before The Great Tribulation begins will escape such a terrible time spoken of in various scriptures, some of which are written for us in Matthew 24, Daniel 12, Luke 21, and Revelation 13.
And so we remember pertinent scripture in Luke 21:36 which contains wisdom for us in order to pray daily to escape all these things that must take place. We are greatly comforted in scripture where the apostle Paul is speaking to us from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words". God surely is the greatest of comforters we are so very blessed to have.
While searching for an image to pair with this piece of writing I came across a black and white photograph of a young missionary family only to discover they had all tragically died the same day from a rear end car accident on their way to Colorado in the United States of America on 31 July 2016. Their youngest infant, only a mere baby at 2 months, lived such a short time, likened to a breath, a vapour, a breeze, a shadow in time (Job 7:7, James 4:14, Psalm 39:5, 78:39, and 114:4). Their image stood out amongst all the colourful scripture images therefore I was drawn to know more about the Pals family to read the entire blog as it had powerful meaning, great significance and was written with skill by Jamison Pals who reflects a deep passionate love for God. Here is a quote taken from his work "Whatever we lose will be worth it if we gain more of Christ". This reminds me of the apostle Paul's words in Philippians 3:7-8. The following link is provided for your perusal in case you are like me and think about those we will help in the future. https://medium.com/@brettrayl/precious-deaths-a-meditation-on-deliverance-in-psalm-116-5fd44354ede
I never met this family, nor did I meet Mr. Martin and yet tears were shed for both. Nobody enjoys mourning even though it may be bittersweet, however we know that Mr. Ken Martin is at rest in his final sleep for the time ahead when he will be among those first to be resurrected to meet Christ our Saviour at His triumphant return. Until then we continue to sigh and cry for those who go before us and pray for God's Kingdom to come in earnest whilst we live each day as if it is our last, making the most of the time we have been so graciously given by God. In the meantime here is a link to the booklet "What happens after death" if you have not read it before. https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/what-happens-after-death Let us remember our spiritual family as we prepare for the Feast of Trumpets which will very shortly be upon us.