I just finished reading LIFE Magazine’s special addition. "Gone Too Soon" which was full of stories about famous people such as Anne Frank whose lives were not long, but mattered.
My thoughts returned to the life that mattered the most to me growing up … my mother. It has been as long now since her death as the number of years she lived, yet I still see new evidence of just how much she mattered. I see her in the way I parent. I see her in familiar gestures and inherited talent. I see her in my daughter’s eyes.
The magazine spoke about how lives cut short left behind so much potential, so much loss. How true it is. I have lived 40 years without her and yet sorrow remains over the loss of what could have been.
And so it is, as written in the closing statements of the “Gone Too Soon” LIFE magazine special addition - My mother also “Had so much more to give and, just as important, wanted so much to give it!”
What a colossal rip off.
I then thought about our church family some of whom have also lost
loved ones due to premature death. Gone too soon!
From a pure emotional standpoint, it is unbearable to even think about it. That is what we do; try not to think about such things.
But for those who have been visited by premature death, especially recently, it is all they can think about.
I understand, in a way, how mean it is for life to go on all around them. Even kind words meant to help can wound. Seems that only time holds the hope for any inkling of relief. A long, long time at that.
My heart aches for the mom who lost her only son right before the holidays and for a fellow Pastor’s wife who lost her sister on Christmas day, and for the man who included a photo in an on-line album of his late wife as a young woman, holding her first child,
and of the friend who relives a tragedy much too difficult to address.
and of the friend who relives a tragedy much too difficult to address.
God help them.
So much lied ahead that they would have wanted to be a part of!
Premature death . . . Gone too soon indeed.
So what is the good news about this whole premature death thing? What good thing can come out of it? Any fatalistic suggestions?
Never mind.
God’s Word is pretty clear that the only death that glorifies (Other than laying one’s life down for another) is dying to one’s self. Paul said, it is far better to be with God in heaven, but for those on earth, it is BETTER that I stay. Better because the apostle could continue to bless the followers with spiritual insight. He could be there for them when they needed or just wanted him to be. Paul could serve Jesus by serving His people – not in heaven, on earth!
Thank God Paul’s mindset was not one of fatalism, but of faith. A freed man who had a free will. Because of those who would be blessed by his longer life, he chose to stay. Although, he did make it clear that dying and being with Christ was far better for him – for anyone. Phil. 1:21.
That is a fact to hold on to.
Unfortunately, there remains a constant need to be reminded of the fact that only good things come from above. It’s a real theological stretch to include premature death as one of those good things, yet people still try.
It is not.
And so we are left with some questions for certain and a few unknowns.
On the other hand we do have several for sures that we can rest our faith on.
Here are a few…
God is a good God. He gives life and life abundantly.
John 10:10.
Life of any length is but a vapor when compared to eternal life.
James 4:14
A glorious guaranteed permanent reunion is on the calendar…
1 Thes. 4:13-18; Heb. 12:1
Tragedy does not have to happen again. Scripture provides divine protection as part of the blood covenant.
Psa. 4:8; Prov.18:10; Psa. 91:16; Psa. 91:11-13; Prov. 3:1-2; Psa.90:10.
When Jesus left this earth he told us that he is sending a comforter, the Holy Spirit, to live inside of each believer. His comfort works.
It heals if we allow it. John 14:16.
The sting of death has been eliminated. When a person passes only their earthly house remains which becomes an empty shell. Man’s spirit is eternal; therefore they really have not died at all, but were merely transformed. 1Cor.15:55.
Sadly, the longer a person lives the more opportunity to hear about premature deaths. This is especially true if you are associated with a lot a people over a long period of time such as Pastors of the same church for 21 years. Personally, each time I hear of a premature death my reaction is always the same, colossal rip off - advantage Satan. Any death is tragic, but premature death is especially so.
Just as certain, however, as the fact that the devil is snickering in hell over each tragedy, is the Lord’s supernatural comfort and ability to gently bring those left behind through.
When speaking about “the late” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Bible teaches that God is the Lord of the living not of the dead. That denotes those patriarchs are still alive! Alive in Heaven.
Such a confirming, comforting verse.
Matt. 22:32.
In this temporary earthly realm, however, we need to concentrate on those around us who have not passed. We need to cherish each day with them and to fulfill our time as God intended. It is so important not to complete the package that the enemy started which would be our spiritual crippling or demise. It is by God’s Spirit, His Word and Power alone that carries us to the other side of grief.
1Chronicles 29:10-12; Isa 25:8; 1 Cor. 15:54.
What a short life we have to live here on earth! Shorter by the second. The only way to live out our days, especially if we have experienced a premature death, is to live with eternity in mind.
Daily.
Considering eternity and the power that promise has within it, results in Satan’s weapons crumbling before they detonate. Unfortunately, many fall prey to the final blows the enemy has planned for them.
Blows of depression, finger pointing, or guilt.
How foolish it is to hold grudges or bitterness toward anyone especially loved ones. What a deception to allow the enemy to come between us and all the comforting promises in God’s Word. It is not possible to turn back time but it is within our reach to help form the future for us and others by living out His will in our lives.
Living with eternity in mind turns our attention away from the past and concentrates on the present which creates a much anticipated future.
Are we living our lives today the way we wish we would if it were our last? Who is around us that would benefit from our heartfelt prayers before it is too late? How many future plans of Satan can we help destroy by preventative prayer combined with unmovable faith that what He says in His Word, He will do?
Psa. 91:16
Unlike the tragedy of premature death, which is noted by all, the vast majority of our intercessory prayers will not be celebrated or even noticed until Heaven. One day we will grieve no more and we will become aware of what our prayers accomplished.
Matt. 6:4-6; Isa. 25:8; Rev. 19:9
When you truly love someone, that true love never fades. And for those who would do anything, even give up their own life for the safe return of another, remember there is one who has already done that for you. Jesus pushed you out of the way of your certain demise and took your consequences, pain, and punishment. He did it because His love for you is that strong. He took your place because He wanted you to fulfill your days on earth and live forever with Him in Heaven. He died in your place because he could and because he wanted to. No man took the life of Jesus, He laid it down freely.
Love covers it does not reveal mistakes or faults. Love is unearned and unconditional. Love comforts when nothing else can. And love never ever fails. God is that love.
If you have suffered a premature death in your family, it is important to know that is not the final chapter. Rely on the comfort of the Holy Spirit, not your own ability to comfort yourself. Trust in the truth that time will bring relief and that it will one day get easier. Understand that due to your weakened state, the enemy wills to finish you off. Be determined to not allow Satan to add to his spoils.
We can also remind people of the specialness of the one we lost, far too early, because though they may not have been famous as those in Life’s “Gone Too Soon” addition, their life however short, mattered.
Every life does.
And lastly, we can do for them what they cannot do for themselves –
Cherish and enjoy the moments of our own life - for them, for us, and in spite of their premature passing.
pw
