Friday, March 29, 2024

Death: Its Tragedy and Redemption

A Walk with Pastor John Smith

Posted

Death always takes us by surprise. Of course, we all know that death comes for every person, but when it does come to those we know and love, the news hits us suddenly, and we are in a state of shock right before we are overcome with grief.

It is no surprise that I am well acquainted with death as a pastor. I have preached numerous funerals and have been at the bedside of those on the edge of passing into eternity. However, in every instance, death always stuns me. Even when I know that they have but moments left on this earth when they breathe their last, it is gut-wrenching, and no amount of seminary training can prepare you for the sudden end of an individual’s life.

Death has a way of exposing us like no other. It reveals the frailty of life but also shows us that try as we might, there are simply things outside of our control. Ultimately, we cannot control the timing of our death is reserved within the providence of God. Which leads us to ask, why is death a reality in this world? If God is good, why does he allow death to continue, given how tragic it is and how much pain it causes?

As creatures, we should not dare to impugn the Creator, but questions surrounding death are natural considering that death is all around us. Furthermore, those questions surface even more when death hits close to home, and a loved one is gone. Biblically speaking, God hates death. God takes no pleasure in the death of people—even the wicked (Eze. 33:11). Death is described as a “curse” throughout the Bible, coming into this world through the fall of Adam.

When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, that sin brought the consequence of death to all of creation (Romans 5:12). From the animal that died to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness in Genesis 3:21 to their eventual death later and to every death that creation has ever experienced is the result of sin. Sin has radically broken this world, and therefore “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). As much as death is a curse, there is a mercy present within it that is incredibly powerful and redemptive.

But isn’t it like God to take that which is tragic and hopeless and redeem it for his glory? God always flips the script, and death is no exception. Death is merciful because it ends suffering. Can you imagine a life where suffering is perpetuated, and there is absolutely no end to it? Think of an individual with a terminal diagnosis, whose body is eaten up by disease and yet has to live eternally in that state, or a wicked tyrant whose reign of terror never ends.

What we have just described sounds a lot like Hell! Even more merciful than just ending suffering, God used death to bring about the redemption of people. Without death, there would be no cross or shedding blood to forgive our sins. If Christ didn’t die, we would be enterally condemned—hopeless and without a way to be saved. Yet God did send his Son to die for his people, and through that sacrifice, heaven is open, and salvation is given to all those who believe.

The death of Christ is the greatest demonstration of God’s love to the world (Jn. 3:16). Without death, there is no resurrection. On the one hand, death is an end to suffering, as mentioned earlier but is it not the ultimate end. On the other hand, for the Christian, death is merely the door we walk through, or the river we cross to reach the glory promised to us in and through the gospel. Death is a tragedy that pulls the rug out from underneath us.

We feel disjointed and at a loss, because we have lost ones that we care about. However, God has redeemed death by Christ taking upon its curse and triumphing over it. Those in Christ, too, share in that triumph, and although we grieve, we grieve as ones with hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Pastor John Smith of Evergreen Baptist Church in Cashmere can be reached here.

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