Walking the Vale

I lost a good friend Monday morning at 4:11. He got his “early release” pass from school down here on earth and went home victoriously to be with Jesus after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. You know, you can learn a lot about living by spending time with those who are dying. They have no time for the trivial, meaningless stuff that clutters up life for those of who are still denying our mortality. They are past the delusion that keeps the rest of us from thinking or talking about the big ugly bully that hides just behind all fears… death. Words have more meaning when they flow from a man who knows they might be his last. This man used his final quota of words to bless and not curse. He could have been bitter, angry, and selfish, and the world would have said, “He has a right to be!” but he wasn’t. He was gracious, thankful and kind. He said “I love you” to his friends and family – probably a whole lot more than he ever did before. He told his friends about his faith – a faith that grew and deepened right up until that faith became sight – a faith that did not disappoint him but ushered him into the glorious hope that awaits all those who believe.


You see, he had found a treasure near the end of his road- a pearl of great price. He came to understand that he had a Heavenly Father who loved Him, a Father who sent His Son to die for him. He learned that through faith he could be adopted into God’s family and that the Son who died and rose again was now his big brother who has already whipped that ugly bully named Death. When we grasp that truth, there is nothing to fear. The real truth is, I didn’t lose a friend, we’re just going to be separated for a little while. King David said it this way about the death of his infant son, “He shall not return to me, but I shall go to him.” Many years later when King David faced his own death, he spoke these words to his son Solomon who would soon be King himself: “I am about to go the way of all flesh.” No denial there. Deep down we all know it’s true. Every living thing dies. Wrapped up in the very definition of life is the expectation of death. Ernest Hemmingway wrote: “Every true story ends in death.”

Old Ernest was almost right. Every true story ends in death….every true story that is - except one! And it is in that one true story that ends in life that we place our hope! Jesus conquered death. He raised Jarius’ daughter and the widow’s son. He called Lazarus from the tomb. And at the end of His earthly story there is an EMPTY tomb. He died and rose again! “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1Cor. 15:20-23, 42-44, 51-58)