‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:15‭-‬18‬ ‭
[15] The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; [16] the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. [17] But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— [18] with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

I have sat in front of this computer screen a few times to journal some of my feelings on grief these past few days. I scrubbed my writings twice. The problem recently is that my thoughts have been torn between dwelling on the hurt I feel at times, and the heartache, which by the way is here to stay, or leaning into God’s eternal Word which is where my healing takes place. So, I’ve been pondering on 1st Corinthians 15 the past few days, so that when the hurt ambushes me and I go down memory lane with the one I miss, when I pick up that picture, when I sit in a certain place at church, file a certain work document from this desk, or print a shipping label,.. or anything that reminds me of her, I’ll be taking comfort in the comforter, the Holy Spirit that’s within me. He reminds me of the resurrection that we will all see, and also of this corruptible body, that will be made new.

Death is real, and it’s near. It’s not what happens to just your cousin, or your co-worker, the stranger in an accident where you’ve been held up in traffic on the interstate for an hour. Death doesn’t just happen to a family member out of state you haven’t seen in years, or that friend you remember as a kid and grew apart over years. No, death comes much closer sometimes. It may seem like it’s always the other person, family, friends, or strangers, but one day it will be you. And if you aren’t ready, you’re in trouble.

In 1st Corinthians 15, Paul reminded the Corinthian church of the saving message of the gospel he preached. He also reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus and all those who witnessed it as truth. He says the resurrection of the dead will take place just as it did with Christ. (vs. 22 says, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ, all will be made alive.” The resurrection of the body is where we are all changed and given an imperishable body. (vs.51-53 says, “….for the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable...”

I know many friends who have died, and many family members who have died. I have grieved over the loss of them. I watched as my wife died before my very eyes and watched as she took her last breath. I have been filled with sorrow and grieved deeply over losing her. When you are married God joins you together as one. We were one for 46 years. She died in Christ, and I find much comfort in that, even through my sorrow. I find comfort in these words knowing she will be clothed in a new body. When those who die are gone, it is us, the ones left behind that hold a heartache. Even though we hurt, there is a comfort in this that the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Not only does he remind us of the fact that God is close to the broken hearted, there is also another scripture that reminds us of Hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.“

Please see to it that you are serving God before your days are ended here. As you can see from the referenced scriptures above, there is a day coming when we will die, and be resurrected and clothed with a new body. If you have witnessed death in those you love, be reminded you will also witness a resurrection in the last day. Hopefully you will stand before God clothed for eternal glory and not in shame of condemnation. So, I encourage you to make and find peace with God today while you are among the living. God is calling, as he does us all. So run to him and call on his name in repentance that you may find, and have Life. Set your trust and hope in God..