Where is your sting?

Death. It is one of the cruelest realities about the lives that we live. For many it is expected either because of age or illness. For others it is a blow of a reminder of the futility and fragility of our lives. It is cruel in the sense that we know that as we grow older we know that many of whom we loved and care for will be met by it. It’s cruel when a father or mother outlives their children because of the indiscriminate nature of it.

You see death hurts us a pains us so much because it is not something that is natural to the original plan in our creation. It tears away relationships of love and care that are supposed to last forever. Death hurts.

I’m sure that many of you reading understand this pain. In college I lost three dear friends to tragic deaths. One was killed in a car accident, the other had a heart attack and the last was locked in his bathroom while having an asthma attack. A few years ago another friend died after a long battle with a brain tumor. All of them were young, no older than 35 years old. And again, I am reminded of how fragile life is and how we must cherish every moment.

How to explain away death and the suffering that it causes? Why would a person run into a mall, movie theater or school and shoot innocent people? Why would a mother choose to kill her unborn child? Why would someone take away his or her life? Why did the drunk driver survive but the family he hit die?

Death so many times leaves us wondering, is there a God?

I believe there is a God. He is a God that has given us the ability to decide our actions for ourselves, free will. He could go and control every outcome of every situation but then we wouldn’t be free. He is a God that has allowed the effects of our decisions to show us that his way is the ideal way. Like parents who allow their children to make mistakes and gain experience so that they may value their wisdom.

You see God does not leave things there. He understands the pain, suffering and tragedy of death. He gave his Son, Jesus to die for us. He experienced that separation from a loved one like we did! The reason he did it was so that we could one day be restored to that original nature that will not ever again experience death.

1^st Corinthians 15:54, 55(ESV) tells us:

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

This is such a beautiful promise. It’s hard to believe it when we experience the pain, separation and suffering of death but it gives us hope that in the end God is in control. Death will not have the final word on our lives.

Cry and mourn for those that you have lost because of death. Console and support those who are experiencing the pain of death. Allow your self to express those emotions that help you connect with the heart of God. Rest assured in the hope that Jesus defeated death at the cross and now we are offered that same victory ourselves.

I know that this may be a

simplistic attempt to put death in context or attempt to bring comfort to someone that may be experiencing this pain. Rest assured that God is by your side, especially when you feel that he isn’t. If you are going through this pain, I’m praying for you. When I experience this pain, pray for me.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:4(ESV)

"The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death."
-Steps to Christ