-John 11:25-26
I have found that as I peruse the news headlines of the last couple of weeks, I get an overwhelming sense of panic, disarray, and confusion. For instance, the proclaimed "King of Pop" Michael Jackson dies suddenly, and the whole world panics and figuratively "shuts down" itself to mourn his passing. Yet thousands upon thousands die of starvation, disease, and other means worldwide, and yet we shed no tear or shut ourselves down to remember and mourn for them. What is wrong with that picture?
It would seem that although death has been a hot topic in the news as late, it is a bigger topic locally. Everywhere I go, even at the office I work at, the topic of death seems to be on the tips of everyone's lips. And what is it about death that these people talk about? The uncertainty of things to come. The question of who, celebrity or local, is going to die next. All this talk... and not one conversation I hear sounds hopeful or encouraging.
God placed the role of death as a means to signify our passing into a new life. Death may be a byproduct of the first act of sin told in Genesis 3, but it doesn't mean we have to fear it like so many of our peers tend to do. We have an awesome hope to believe in - the hope that Jesus has given us a life beyond Death's reach!
I can never seem to understand the implications of the above verse at times like this, but I do understand a few truths in this. Jesus talks about physical death as though it is just another phase in life that no one needs to fear or be uncertain about, and that in itself is encouraging to me. Instead of all this talk about death and how horrible it is, we should be talking about how wonderful it will be to see Jesus's promise fulfilled and to live without ever truly dying. That will definitely turn some heads and get people talking, right?
