I WILL RISE
Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
My great friend Steve the same story several years. Each fall over those years he would tell me the story of an older hunter that had a new deer stand built for himself. It was a fancy small "building" elevated on sturdy posts. Leading up to the door was a very sturdy wide set of stairs, not like normal stairs found on most deer stands. When his hunting buddies gave him a bad time about such a fancy stair case to a blind and a comfortable, elaborate stand, this elderly gentleman just stated that this was his "stairway to heaven". Steve told me that each year on opening morning in his later years that he felt he was too climbing his own "stairway to heaven."
On the first day of season the hunter from the story excitedly climbed his "stairway to heaven" and got ready for a good day or hunting. Later in the day when he didn't return to camp at the scheduled time his friends went to check on him. When they found him, they found that he had indeed climbed his stairway to heaven... And sometime during his hunting day, he had passed from this life into the next.
This is a nice comforting story, but death is not nearly this sweet and painless for those around a dying friend or family member... It is hard and painful. Even Jesus wept when he heard of the death of His dear friend Lazarus.
When the apostle Paul's friend and fellow worker Epaphroditus fell terribly ill, Paul wrote in a letter: "Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow"
(Philippians 2:27). So even Paul, who certainly had a strong faith, could barely withstand the thought of being separated from a close friend by death.
So death is a painful thing for those friends and family of the one that is dying. But if we have a personal relationship with Christ, we need not worry, we will see that person again. Life is so short and it will be just a moment and we too will rejoin that loved one in paradise.
If we know Him, that created us and loves us so dearly, dearly enough to call us to our eternal home, there should be no fear in what we will experience, just joy.
Chris Tomlin sang a song that brings great peace in a time of pain...
"I Will Rise"
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, even though he dies, he will live."
John 11:25
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