My father died at 97. I remember he used to ask why the Lord hadn’t taken him already. Sometimes I felt bad thinking I wasn’t making him feel good at home, although he told me many times that in my home was the best he ever had. I figured since he had no responsibility whatsoever and had no restriction financial wise, he felt free, yet sometimes he missed his wife and many good friends who had passed on which would have made him sad despite any good situation. When we put restrictions on his driving his younger friends came to pick him up and he felt like a young lad again with no curfew. When we are children of the Most High and we thank Him for everything, no matter the circumstance, we will always find a great way to overpower whatever misfortune life can bring. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8.28)
So, why should we be afraid of life? I was when I was younger, but when I was not matured enough on my faith. That happens to people at different times in life and we call it “conversion” or “new birth” because, no matter how long one has been “experiencing” in the faith, it isn’t until he/she realizes the truth the Bible says so he/she can really understand; some when they are younger, others when they are older, God knows when the right time is for you, reason for which we should not judge anybody, not even when we think they are wrong now, for they could be going to Paradise ahead of us. Jesus said: “And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.” (Luke 13.30)
Last month I wrote of “death,” and remembered the one death that gave us life. People usually think that there’s nothing else after death but we know there is life eternal for all of us who believe (John 3.16) and that’s the reason we sing and celebrate life when people “die” in the family of the Lord. We know that after death the real life will come for us (and not the other way around) reason for which we can have hope of something better for the future. Jesus said it to his disciples: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14.1-3)
We do not have to be afraid of death or even life on this earth because we are safe in Jesus. If you are not his friend now, I invite you to ask Him to be your friend and no matter how bad you have been in the past, or how big your sins were, He’s faithful to his word:
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1.18 b)
“They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7.14c)
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1.29)
