The Gospel in Death

It is only appropriate that I begin this post by saying, “Thank you!” I am speechless (which doesn’t happen often) over the expressions of love poured out on our family during the passing of my father-in-law. I wonder if there is any more accurate picture of the body of Christ than in a time of loss. Just as in our own bodies, when something is hurt, the entire body feels the pain and works to aid the ailing part. We have experienced others bearing our pain and rushing in to minister to our hurt! Paul speaks to this in his second letter to the church at Corinth:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.  Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” 2 Cor. 1:3-7

The death of a loved one is never an experience that we look forward to but death is certain for all of us. Scripture says, “It is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.” However, for the believer, death is the final miracle, the ultimate grace and the complete restoration of our souls. In fact, the greatest thing that can happen to a believer is death because it is the means by which our struggle with sin is finished and our faith is made sight!

I love the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O Death where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?” The writer is taunting death as a bee that has lost its venom, its power...its dread.

This was the first time in my life I had simultaneously felt the deep sense of grief and the fluttering quell of joy over death. I had such a sense of rejoicing within my spirit. But I wasn't rejoicing over a life well lived, I wasn't rejoicing over suffering that had ceased...I was rejoicing in Jesus! In His gospel and His saving grace!

Earlier that week before we took the kids to see their PawPaw for the last time on this earth I quickly turned to them and said, "You know, we talk a lot about Jesus in this house. We talk a lot about the gospel and sin and the need for a Savior. This is why! THIS is why Jesus died! This is why the gospel is good news! You are seeing the gospel lived out right before you and it is never more clearly spoken then in death!"

You see, sin brings death! But praise God, Jesus tasted death in order that we might have life! Jesus said so clearly, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever believes in me though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Wednesday morning, I went into my children, confidently and boldly proclaiming that their PawPaw was with Jesus and that yes, he lives! This is why we do not sorrow as those who have no hope! PawPaw had placed his faith in Jesus Christ and the gospel was a reality for him at 4:05a.m. on February 22, 2012. All that he had hoped for, lived for and placed his faith in were all a glorious reality in the blink of an eye.

Beloved, what you think of Jesus in this life is all that truly matters. We make life so complicated. We worry and fret and as Jesus told Martha, we "are troubled over many things." But when death comes to call all that matters in that instant is Jesus. It comes down to Him. Today is the day of repentance. Today is the day of faith!

"What will you do with Jesus? Neutral you cannot be. For one day He will be saying, 'what will I do with thee?'"