CELEBRATE THE LOST!

” To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn , and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to go rend, and a time to sow; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace”    Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“A time to be born and a time to die.”  Is one of the most well-known statements of this era, that has literally worried some folks to death. 

As some of us know, the bible gives us instructions on how to handle death. We talked about that in “Death is Life Everlasting.”  As far as I know we have no remembrance of our birth, and I believe the reason is because we are void of knowledge. Which has often caused me to wonder why do the young think the elderly are without wisdom?

At an early age, I was taught some things about death, by listening to the teachings of my grandmother. I learned death could be endured. As my grandmother was preparing to meet her maker, she told me she wanted me to be happy, and she said; “when I leave this old world, there will be more tears, for me; and understand baby, we are to cry when one is born and rejoice when one is gone.”                            

I was young, and I thought since she was elderly, she had the whole cry and laugh thing backward.

After my grandmother’s death, and I had returned to work; I was in a hospital finishing sheetrock when one morning a doctor entered an adjacent room; separated by a sheet of heavy clear plastic, I saw he was carrying a newborn baby. I had stopped to check out the scene when I hear him say to the child, as he pierced it with a needle; “Welcome to the world of pain.” The baby cried and so did I.

A short time later, while in church, I found Revelations 21:4-5   “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away: And he that sat upon the throne said; Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

This is my story and I am sticking with it.

My grandmother told me when she passes away, she wanted me to look for the smile on her face. I was too “Celebrate the Lost;” I did see that smile, and I understood the intent. She wanted to try to prepare me to “look death in the face;” for there is no getting around it, or any other way other than to do it.

“All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.”    Ecclesiastes 3:20

“Like it or not,” she said, “you are the eldest sibling and will probably be responsible for the burial of your parents, maybe some others as well; I pray no child should leave before their parents. It’s a hard job, and you need to know what it entails. So make your peace, try to understand death is not a sentence; abide by the will of God so you can have life everlasting, after death, as God promised.”

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”   2nd Corinthians 5:8

There are some so deeply immersed in the Devil that, if they died, we might want to “celebrate the loss  “A Celebration for the relief of some, from sickness, etc.; or others that are just plain evil; praying they have been redeemed by God’s mercy, again. What good is life without quality; being racked with pain and or being chased by demons; this is not the way to live or die. We need our Savior, which is in heaven.

Most don’t want to die because, we are afraid, selfish, and want to live, forever and ever. We want it all.  Steven Write asked; “Where would you put it?” 

We are afraid of the unknown, so some are willing to endure any angst, to not die. Angst: a strong feeling of worry, dread, anxiety, or anguish, etc.  Some angst is caused by man’s awareness of death. Shouldn’t we be afraid of the known? I don’t know about you, but I find this world a bit freighting.

With the help of my grandmother, and surviving Cancer, I don’t worry too much about death. Oh, now don’t get me wrong, it’s just not at the top of my list, anymore. I want to live as long as possible. I stopped brooding over the fact that it is going to happen and wondering when. I decided to start living under the real fact that; “Thy Will Be Done.”

I felt the presence of God when I thought I was at death’s door. I felt the joy of lost fears when I gave my woes to Christ.

“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead.’   Isaiah 26:19

I can’t say I saw a “white light,” but I can say I saw a “bright future,” after I came face to face with what I thought might be my demise. I found, what I thought was my time, was not. I was wasting time being obsessed with death.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even vapors that appear for a little time, and then vanish away.”   James 4:14

I retained most of what my grandmother told me all those years ago, and I try not to beat me down about the lost of a loved one to death. We all have to live with death, and we all will have to die. But while we are here, we should not fear death, but live to serve the Lord; so when it is our time, we will not regret anything. (Life)

We may not wake up to know there is a tomorrow, so praise God now and live for today.  “Celebrate the Lost,” of those gone home; for they have awakened on the right-hand side of God Almighty.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”  Ecclesiastes 12:7

Let God’s people rejoice. Amen

Thank you, grandma!

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