As I sit this morning with a cup of coffee and the sun beaming in the window, I reflect on an event that saddens my heart. A dear friend lays in critical condition and this very well could be the date that she leaves the earth. She and her husband have spent many years working for the Lord and have sacrificed deeply for the kingdom of God.
I have found that death is no respecter of persons and visits us all at one time or another. This however does not ease the pain of loss. The scripture says it is appointed unto man once to die. It is an appointment established in heaven and one that all of us will keep.
Some years ago nearly 38 if I remember right my dad who was one of my closest friends passed away from cancer. It was a very trying time to say the least not only for him but also for our family. He was 59 years old much too young to think of dying. Our family stayed close by his side as he lay in the hospital gradually getting weaker and weaker. We could see the flame of life was nearly out. He had said his goodbyes to each of us and I am sure he was weary of the fight. I spent much of my time by his bedside, I wanted to be with him when he closed his eyes for the last time. I wanted to hold his hand, like he had held mine so many times when life was cruel. He would open his eyes occasionally to see if I was there.
I left his side one day to catch up on things on my job, he was as it seemed having a good day. This was however the day that the Lord would pick him up and let him leave this diseased body that he was living in. My mother was by his side that morning when things went downhill. She shared this story with me. “Steve it was the most amazing thing to see, dad’s breathing had changed and became labored and his blood pressure had fallen and I knew that this was the time. Then all of a sudden he sat up in bed, he was smiling and was reaching out as though he was seeing some great sight. He was not even aware that I was there. He was so focused on what he was seeing and then he collapsed back into bed and was gone.” What did he see, or should I say who did he see? I think we know the answer to that question. Dad had finished his course in life, he had remained faithful to the end and the one who he had given his life to was there to take him to a place that was prepared. I have felt terrible all these years that I could not have seen that moment of arrival. Please notice I did not use the word departure. Yes he was departing but I focus solely on the arrival for this was his ultimate destiny. You see this life we have on earth is not our destiny, this earth is not my home, it is a place I am passing through on my way to heaven. Paul said it best, “to live is Christ, to die is gain’. Tradition has it that Paul ran to the chopping block in that roman prison where he was killed. For God no doubt had given him a glimpse of what was ahead.
So I leave you with this thought, what we consider loss to those in Christ who die it’s gain. Our tears stand in contrast to their joy. No more suffering, no more pain and dark sleepless nights. A place of embrace with those who have gone before. Maybe I should focus more on their joy than my grief as I go through the process of loss.