Just in this year alone, we have had two major earthquakes in the countries of Haiti, and now Chile. We can only imagine what families are going through with the loss of loved ones from these natural disasters. The media coverage has a way of heightening our senses to the grief, pain, and anguish people are experiencing through video footage and photo shots. We might not be in Haiti or Chile, but the reality is many people around us at work, in our neighborhoods, and even at church are going through “earthquake-like” experiences and we are oblivious to their grief.
Why does grief bring such a heavy burden arising from the ashes of bereavement? Why the accident? Why the terminal illness? Why the natural disaster? Why the finality of death?
Why does grief come in waves of anguish and pain? Grief has a way of leaving us feeling fragile and unstable. All you want to do inside is withdraw from friends and even loved ones.
There is nothing you can do to prepare or plan ahead of time for your moment of loss. Death has no warning signals. It is unpredictable and unexpected. When death comes, it can cause our lives to move in slow motion, resulting in numbness towards life.
God’s Word has no better word for death than “enemy” (1 Cor. 15:25-26). Death is at war of everything beautiful and precious about life. The outcry of our hearts that death is wrong and unnatural is absolutely right and true. Death exists because of sin (Rom. 6:23). When Adam and Eve acted as king and queen of their own kingdoms, they abandoned God’s Kingdom and forsook God’s ruling love in their lives. Everyone in humanity followed their footsteps (Rom. 5:12). Thus, death became a reality.
But death and grief do not have the final word, but life: resurrected life in Jesus Christ! The gospel reminds Christians that Jesus Christ died the death we should have died and lived the life we fail to live. Christ rose again so that death would be defeated. When we hear the deaths of loved ones and the lives lost in earthquakes, it reminds us that death still lives. Yes, death is our last enemy, and death will be defeated once and for all. Christ’s bodily resurrection and supremacy guarantees this.
So preach to yourself that Jesus’ resurrection and life have the last word.
Preach to yourself that Jesus has already paid for your sins and you’re forgiven.
Grief would want you to seek and escape to other temporary comforts: old photo albums, material things, memorable stories, and distractions (tv shows, facebook, twitter, exercise, food, relationships). They all provide some brief comfort but none can satisfy you except Christ alone.
Pray and believe that Jesus would be your true source of comfort.
Christ knows your pain. He experienced death Himself and conquered it.
Because Christ lives, you also will live (Jn. 14:19).