Pastor’s Thoughts – 07-13-2025

The heartbreaking loss of life during the recent flooding in Texas is on all of our minds. I also am remembering the 20-year anniversary of the massive traffic collision resulting in the death of friends Bill and Pam Rehrer, and their two precious daughters. Consideration of these events and the reality of events like them, causes me to pause, step aside, and seek the Lord. Depending on how long we personally live, all of us will witness these kinds of events in our lives. These are things we stumble trying to explain in our own minds, and even more so when we are asked to explain for others. The Bible’s answer to unexpected, and what we consider as tragic events, is demonstrated best in the book of Job. Job, a righteous man, loses all ten of his children, all his wealth, and his health without any human explanation. Even after God responds to his complaining, he is still not provided God’s reasoning. Instead, he is given the lesson to not question God and His purposes.

It may seem simplistic to some, but I think that this is the answer we need from God. His answer is that we, the sinful creatures, must not question the wisdom and purposes of our God. We must instead trust Him and His providence in our lives and the lives of those we love. I recall a statement made by John MacArthur following the 9-11 attacks in 2001. He was appearing on the Larry King talk show and was asked, “What do we learn from this?” His reply was, “We are all going to die and we do not know when.”  His response seems like cold or harsh words, but in reality, they are true words that should provide us conviction to soberly consider what is most valuable. God said to Adam and to Eve, “In the day you eat from it (The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil), you will surely die” (Gen.2:17). From that event of sin all people by kinship to Adam as our federal head have been dying. We are thankful that we do not know our death date, and God has graciously and purposely withheld it. What we do know is that all of us without respect of age will die unless we are among those alive at the coming of Christ. Solomon stated under inspiration, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart” (Eccl. 7:2). God, through Solomon is clear that the value of attendance at a funeral supersedes that of a party. Having our end in view is more beneficial than being entertained. Ironically, by experiencing sorrow we can be driven to the foot of the cross to find the place of true peace and release from the depths of despair.

Nothing is more difficult than the facing of the death of those who are most dear to us. Death has the feel of finality, and the pain of sorrow carries wounds that hurt less in time but never go away. To us as Christians we must face death differently than those of the world. Paul says, “That we will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). He does not say we do not grieve, but when we grieve we do so with hope. What we have are the promises of God that we know and believe. Death is terribly ugly and hurtful, but according to the Lord who made us and can do all things, it is not final. This is where faith comes in to overcome the world. This is a faith that is so sure and so powerful that Paul says, “Oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).

We should examine and contemplate the situations and sorrows of life. They will help us in character, in perspective, and in our relation to God.  I could not understand for years why the Scripture records that our Lord Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11), knowing that He was about to raise him from the dead. It was not until I had personally witnessed such sorrow that I understood. He wept with Martha, Mary and others because of the magnitude of the sorrow associated with death. We are not stoic but are those with hearts of compassion. Yet, just as we weep with grief over the hardship of death, we always know it has been defeated in Christ our Lord. God has woven into our lives these tragic situations of life for His purpose. And, for those in Christ Jesus there is joy coming in the morning. Wait upon the Lord! Draw near to the Lord! Keep on looking up for indeed our redemption is drawing nearer and nearer to us. He will soon wipe every tear from every eye (Rev. 21:4). In the meantime, let us pray for those we encounter who are experiencing intense grief that they may know a sense of peace and hope in the midst of such sorrow. Christ is our refuge in such times. Knowing Him means everything!