So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (II Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV)
Death and Love
Some elements of modern society seem to have a strange affection with death. Voodoo, zombies, goth, and sometimes even Hallowe’en lift death up, enjoy the concept of death, and ignore death’s tragic sorrow.
But I wonder if Christians should glance at death with a bit less hate than we usually do. We should grieve, but rather than grieve like God’s enemies grieve, we have a different light. (1 Thessalonians 4:13 ESV) We grieve differently.
Our death grief focuses on a temporary absence when believers die. Our death grief focuses on the empty place in our hearts left by a lost loved one. Our death grief focuses on sin’s deadly effect on creation.
But for Christ’s people, death is the gateway that takes us home. A painful gateway, yes. A dark gateway, yes. A sad gateway, yes. But we will rejoice because we will be with the Lord. And we rejoice because when Christ’s people die here, we live THERE.
Because perhaps the second-best act of love that Christ performed was to transform death. He loved us by changing death from God’s ultimate punishment to God’s ultimate graciousness. He loves us by removing from His people the need to fear what the rest of the world fears. He will love us by welcoming us home, as our eyes close in this world, and open with Him.
So death now is an example of Christ’s love.
Take the love God grants us.