On yesterday, a young man we grew up with passed away, then my Grams and one of my uncles got sick and they both had to be taken to the hospital and usually the first thing people say is, the devil is busy. Baby, the devil isnt busy just because sickness and death is roaming the streets, this is God working because death is a way we all have to go. I know it’s hard to understand why more folks are leaving and even many are young but it’s all in God’s doing. Yes, we all have to face death and even though we don’t know when it’s coming, it will sooner or later. However, there is a good side to dying because death takes away all the pain the world gave, it gives the kind of rest you couldn’t get on this side, it gives you a new body that hasn’t been scarred with surgeries, dialysis, chemo & radiation and it gets you in the priority line to meet God when he comes. Yea, stepping out the body on this side gives you back the smile you once had, removes the wrinkles from your skin, the scars from being stepped on and pushed down and gives you back the joy that you lost. Oh, stepping out the body on this side gives you peace that you’ve never felt before! See, when the soul leaves the body on this side, they wouldn’t come back here even if they had a choice.
Death isn’t a punishment for you but it’s a reward for those who have died. Jesus says in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” So when death comes, God doesn’t want you to feel like you have no hope because he is your hope and he doesn’t want you to feel like you’re all alone because he’s always near. This is why he left his word for us to read and study for times such as these. This is why 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,
“And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.”
“And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.”
Death is something we all have to face so don’t give up. I’m praying for you my brother/sister who have grieved or is grieving now and I’m asking that God gives you the strength to carry on. Please know that God will never put too much pressure on you that he hasn’t made your shoulders and legs strong enough to handle. Let God in and he’ll hold you on the nights that crying won’t end and when your heart feels like its going to break. Let him do it for you! I’m trusting God to do whatever his will is in my family. My granddad has been laid on his sick bed for 3 years now and my grams is still trying to be strong and take care of everybody else. Now that she is on her sick bed I won’t be selfish to keep asking God to keep them here but I’m stepping aside to allow him to work. I’m asking for him to make it plain in my eyesight and to make me stronger in the process. Whatever it is, it is his will and his will shall be done. Let’s continue to pray for one another because we never know what each other is facing. You don’t have to call my name to pray for me because if your heart is right, the Holy Spirit will intercede; that means He will speak for you!
Lakisha, the Author 