A Light for My Path

Last week I mentioned that I hate the word “death.” It is so harsh. Rather than speak of someone’s death, I prefer to say their “homegoing.” Why is death so hard? Why is death so frightening? It seems self-evident on the one hand. Someone we love is gone from this life. Yet, we are all going to die. So why can’t we accept this?

In his first letter to the Corinthians in chapter 15, Paul talks about the resurrection, both of Christ and of all Christ followers. He reminds us that both death and resurrection came from a person: death from Adam and resurrection from Jesus. Paul says the resurrected Jesus will eventually destroy all his enemies (verse 25). And the last enemy to be destroyed is death (verse 26).

Death is an enemy. It is the last and most powerful enemy. We can’t defeat it; we can’t stop it. Only God through his son can. His resurrection is proof that death has no power over Christ. And eventually it will have no power over us. We will be remade.

Does this knowledge negate our grieving? No. I won’t stop grieving over the loss of my younger daughter until my own death. My grief changes form over time; it’s not the wracking constant pain it was in the first few months after she died. But it still feels unfair. When I see her sister’s children growing up and know their memories of Aunt Rachel are fading, it hurts. When I hear in her husband’s voice the conflict between wanting to move on and still carrying a torch for her, it stings.

Death is the enemy of life. It’s frightening and unpredictable. The fear of death can overcome many of our emotions: joy, courage, anticipation, gratitude. But it can’t overcome love. Not if we believe that God is stronger than death. And that God is love.

Where, O Death is your victory? Where, O Death is your sting?
Death has been swallowed up in victory!

1 Corinthians 15: 55 & 54

He is risen!

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Laura