But When someone we know suddenly passes from our midst, there are usually a lot of questions that flood our minds. Why that person? Why now? Why not someone older? As a pastor you would think that I would get used to people dying. I have conducted hundreds of funerals over the years of my ministry and it still isn't easy to process the fact that I won't see someone I have grown to love anymore. Yes, I know they are with the Lord, and they are "absent from the body and present with the Lord" as Paul described his longing for heaven. At the same time even with all the knowledge of the afterlife and the hope of heaven, it still hurts.
I hold on to the two little words that Jesus uttered when he found out about the death of Lazarus: "JESUS WEPT" ( John 11:35) Our God in the Flesh, feels our hurt and sorrow. He is acquainted with all the emotions and feelings that we feel. He wired us to feel pain, sorrow and disappointment, as well as happiness, joy and contentment. I don't think it would be possible to know the good without the bad.
Years ago I head a pastor say, " Either God is totally good or he isn't." That is something you have to decide for yourself. If He isn't totally good then how could we trust him and place our faith in him? I choose to believe he is totally good and knows what is best for us in this life and for all eternity.
We live in a fallen world tainted by the power of sin. While we are in this world we will face tribulation, but in the mean time I picture my loving Savior weeping along with me because he loves me so much. If he didn't, he wouldn't have allowed mankind to nail him to the cross.
I grieve today because of the loss of my friend and church family member, but I don't grieve as one who has no hope" Why, because I know there is more...
I hold on to the two little words that Jesus uttered when he found out about the death of Lazarus: "JESUS WEPT" ( John 11:35) Our God in the Flesh, feels our hurt and sorrow. He is acquainted with all the emotions and feelings that we feel. He wired us to feel pain, sorrow and disappointment, as well as happiness, joy and contentment. I don't think it would be possible to know the good without the bad.
Years ago I head a pastor say, " Either God is totally good or he isn't." That is something you have to decide for yourself. If He isn't totally good then how could we trust him and place our faith in him? I choose to believe he is totally good and knows what is best for us in this life and for all eternity.
We live in a fallen world tainted by the power of sin. While we are in this world we will face tribulation, but in the mean time I picture my loving Savior weeping along with me because he loves me so much. If he didn't, he wouldn't have allowed mankind to nail him to the cross.
I grieve today because of the loss of my friend and church family member, but I don't grieve as one who has no hope" Why, because I know there is more...