For Those Who Struggle With Death

GraftMeIn · #1 25th July 2002, 05:58 PM

 

Sometimes we see those who are doing Gods work, taken away from us. Those very same poeple who teach us Gods word, and have served as an example of how we should live our life. Even those who are so pure and innocent that they haven't been around long enough to even know what sin is, or even begin to think about it.

Some will ask why. Why have you allowed this to happen Lord? Why would you let this happen to someone you love? Why Lord when you tell us that you will protect us and keep us from harm, do you allow this to happen?

I would like to use the word of God to help us better understand these things. It is because he loves us that he allows this to happen. Let's take a look at ISAIAH 57: 1-2

1 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. 2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find peace as they lie in death.

This scripture tells us that when the righteous perish they enter peace, and are being spared from evil. Our God is so amazing that he knows what lies on the road ahead of us, and he will spare us from it, sometimes sparing us means our flesh will perish, but our soul, and spirit finds an everlasting peace. Since we cannot see what lies on the road ahead of others, or ourselves, It's hard for us to understand why these things take place, we just need to trust that God knows, and in his own way he has spared a righteous soul.

Even  Jesus spoke to us about his own death, but what he spoke can also apply to us. Let's take a look at JOHN 12: 24-28

24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernal of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servent will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27 Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour?' No it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name! Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

This scripture tells us a few things, that might help us understand.When those who have perished, have followed Jesus, Gods word is spoken as we gather and mourn over this loss. This is when that one seed that has fallen, begins to produce more seed, as others accept the word, that this death of the flesh has brought to their ears, the new seeds are produced.

Some of those who follow Christ know they will be facing death. Just as Jesus knew he would. Those who are close to them also know this. How should we face this hour if we know it is coming? The same way Jesus did, trusting in God, and letting his name be glorified by it. We can let others know that we are not afraid, because we know that we will be with our Father in heaven. When we face the death of flesh we gain a new life of everlasting peace. Although our hearts may be troubled, just like Jesus said his was. We know something greater awaits us on the other side.

So if we are faced with afflictions, and know that death is knocking at our door, let us not love our worldly life so much that we don't want to face what is on the road ahead of us. For what lies on the road ahead of us is an eternal life, with our Heavenly Father above. May we glorify Gods name by showing others how much faith we have in him, even in our darkest hour, and may many seeds be planted, as others gather and mourn over us. May he glorify his name once again, through us.

I pray that these words, and scriptures will bring peace, and comfort, to any who may have suffered a recent loss of a loved one, or friend, or to any who may be afflicted, and know they are about to face death, or know someone who is. I myself am not facing any of these trials at this time, but I know that many others are, and my heart goes out to you all. May God comfort you with his word, and grant you with a peacefulness inside your heart.

 

HtH · #2 25th July 2002, 06:45 PM

Thanks for directing me here.
But I cannot accept that

Our God is so amazing that he knows what lies on the road ahead of us, and he will spare us from it, sometimes sparing us means our flesh will perish, but our soul, and spirit finds an everlasting peace.

All of it may be true, but I can't accept that He saves us from harm by ending our lives. It cannot be that simple, and if it is, how can concentration camps be explained?
Thanks for the thoughts.
HtH

P.S. If I shouldn't be posting here, tell me and I'll delete this.

{edited for spelling}

GraftMeIn · #3 25th July 2002, 07:32 PM

HTH,
When our life here on earth is ended, there's a much more beautiful life that begins, It's an everlasting life, one that's so much better than our life here on earth, one that's full of joy, and gladness, one that's full of peace everlasting. Therefore God can rescue us out of this life, and bring us into one that's much better.

I'm not sure how I can explain concentration camps to you. I do know that they don't come from God. Those who run them are evil, and work against those who God loves. If I were to die in one, I would consider it a blessing to escape the pain and torture I would have to endure from having to remain in one. To enter an eternal peace rather than stay there and deal with the evil, would to me be considered a rescue from much pain and suffering.

Would you rather suffer a short time in a concentration camp, and end up with an eternal life of peace, or would you rather continue to live in one for years, and years and suffer at the hands of those who are evil, with no end to the torture, suffering and pain?

KeepTheFaith15 · #4 25th July 2002, 07:43 PM

im not trying to be rude and i dont want to start a fight but all these atheist wish we would listen and try to understand them so much but they wont take the time to at least listen and let our words sink in...

GraftMeIn · #5 25th July 2002, 08:29 PM

KeepTheFaith,
I understand what you're trying to say, at the same time please try and understand why I invited HTH to read this particular post. the very reason HTH has lost faith in God is because someone they know is going to die soon. The very fact that they came in and bothered to read the post, shows me that maybe they are trying to understand why God would allow this happen. I have no way of knowing for sure, but if I can help them just a little to understand, then I'm ok with trying to help them through this.

GreenEyedLady · #6 26th July 2002, 11:53 AM

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?

Why does God allow this to happen?
Why did God allow Adam and Eve to sin?

Why do we let our kids fall when they start walking?
Why do we let our kids rebel against us?
Why do we allow our kids to kill, murder, get raped, have an illness?

What would the world be like of we as parents blamed everything that happened to our children on ourselves.

The truth is it is not our fault. Children have their life to follow, they have their moutians to climb. there is nothing we can do but to help catch them or hold their hand.

What makes you think that God is going to live life for you? What makes you think that its all God's fault?

What about the evil and darkness that roams this world? Why not blame that? It certianly has alot and enogh power to make bad things happen.

When things are going good in life, to whom does one blame for that? When a child is born into this world and your look into their pecious eyes, to whom is to blame for that?
When a human is waiting on their death bed for a transplant and it finally comes..to whom is to blame for that?

How can God be both? its not possible. He is there. He watches, he allows us to walk. if we could walk by God alone, it is not our life. We are not walking.

GEL

ps.....You can be born twice and die once OR
you can be born once and die twice!

HtH · #7 26th July 2002, 05:30 PM

Keepthefaith - as Graftmein said, I was invited to come here and read this. I did, and have made a genuine effort to understand and appreciate the Christian point of view. I'm not a person who refuses to listen to other people's points of view. I tried to understand; it didn't happen for me. It did for you, and I'm very happy for you - you probably have a peace I don't have. And I'd never try to take that away from you by trying to convert you to atheism. My areligion is individual, and I refuse to inflict it on anybody else.
Yours,
HtH
{edited to make more sense}