What Death Teaches Us

This past weekend, we’ve been dealing with the shocking news of the sudden passing away (to glory) of one of my senior pastors whom we’ve known the past 4 years. Our emotions have been high with a deep sense of grief and loss, personally and across the ministry.

How do you process the demise of a fine man of God you spent quality 4 days with just 11 weeks ago, a man whose teachings and words have had profound effect on our lives in recent times?

As we grieve with his family and the church at large, I’ve been left pondering three core lessons that death can teach us.

[1] You only have one life

That’s pretty obvious, yet we often don’t take it to heart until something drastic or sudden like death happens.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 is huge on this reality when it says:

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. 

We can lay more to heart and become wiser in times of sorrow than in seasons of feasting. Death weaves the message right back into every fibre of our being that life is indeed a vapour; here today, gone tomorrow. We don’t get a second chance to make life right; all we have is now.

[2] You will not live forever (in this world)

Your time in this world is limited — whether you believe it or not. If you lived a hundred and fifty years, your life will still be short compared to eternity.

Psalm 90:12 reminds us:

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

It is ‘wisdom’ to prepare for the awesome life that will never end in God’s presence. In a recent post, I wrote about what I told my congregation a few weeks ago on our choice of eternal destiny. The choice is still yours to make — whether of bliss or damnation.

[3] Your legacy matters

In the last fews days since the news broke out, eulogies have poured in on the impact the ministry and life of this amazing man had on others. Though we grieve as a family and church, we are comforted he’s resting in the Lord.

Not everyone gives much thought to the type of legacy they want to leave after they’re gone. You should! And I don’t mean so in a self-centred way.

Ask yourself:

What eternal impact is my life currently having on those in my immediate sphere of influence?

If you feel insecure about answering that question, it’s probably because you aren’t yet living out your God-intended purpose. It’s time to re-think your priorities… ASAP!

While you have breath, make godly impact on others so that you’ll be remembered for touching heaven on earth.

Encouragement: Revelation 21:4: “He (GOD) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Image courtesy of liber | Flickr