This week my mother’s older sister, Wanda Pearl, went home to see Jesus. There are two things that I think of most often when I think of my Aunt Wanda. One is my mom telling me how she always tried to protect her from “ugly things”. The other is her love of pretty things. When I was a young teenager, Aunt Wanda lived in our town for a little while. I always enjoyed her love of jewelry, make-up, nail polish, hair styles and other accessories. My mother was much more practical about these things and so it was fun for me to watch and learn some things from my aunt. And so when I learned of her death, I thought of all the pretty things she is enjoying now and the all the ugly things that are no more. It was easy for me to see the victory for her in death because of the work of Christ we celebrate at Easter.
However, this Easter morning as I stood to sing “Because He Lives”, I was face to face with deaths that leave a sting. As we sang the words to the second verse, “how sweet to hold a new born baby and feel the joy and pride he brings, but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because he lives”, I was keenly aware that the man leading the song had recently lost his son who was same age as my daughter. And that was the second child he had lost to death. In front of me stood a dear friend who tragically lost her husband and two children several years ago. As I looked at my child, my heart was heavy for those who live with the sting of death. I’ve watched other family members who have lost children and others to untimely deaths and I know that His grace is sufficient to sustain even then, but I also know there is sting that does not go away. As I looked up, it was my friend who had her hands lifted in worship the One of whom we sing “life is worth the living just because you live.”
As if rounding a corner in my mind we began the last verse. “And then one day … as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.” It is when we see Jesus that we will fully understand what scripture means when it says “Death is swallowed up in victory”. There is comfort in knowing that our loved ones who have seen him know that victory fully!
The minister began to speak of those who encountered the risen Jesus and the transformation that it brought in their lives. It is true. The death and resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and encountering that truth will change a person’s life. And one day, we will see the risen Lord and in the twinkling of an eye we will be transformed. Then, we will fully understand the victory over death and the grave. All ugly things gone, only pretty things forever more!
“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye,” (I Corinthians 16:51-52 NLT)
“But thank God he gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 16:57 NLT)
Thanks for listening,
See you next Sunday
Ronda
No comments:
Post a Comment