SoulThirst

Gandalf said to Frodo:
"Many who die deserve life, and many who live deserve death. Can you give it to them, Frodo?"

That statement is a very profound look at what Christians call "the sovereignty of God." And usually we toss around that phrase so casually, that we fail to see the terrifying meaning and power behind such a statement. Indeed it would be terrifying, if it were that the God who holds such power is also Love incarnate.

The sovereignty of God, in part (for the purpose of this particular writing) determines who lives and who dies, oftentimes in ways that make no sense to us.
Why is it that people who appear wicked & hopeless are allowed to live?
Why is it that a young teenager, with big plans and a promising future, is the one who dies?

Why are we still alive & allowed to see the deaths of people we know, people we are close to?
Why are we still alive... even though we are just as sinful as the next person... yet God allows us to live?

While I have not looked death in the eye myself, nor have I had close friends pass away, I've been with many people who have. I've lost count of the number of funerals I attended during my high school years, of people who were close to my friends, and having been there to be of support in the difficult times. Grieving is part of living- in this world we will have trouble, Jesus reminds us- and so by all means, take the time to grieve. Yet do not linger long. Christ died, but after 3 days, rose again and is now living at the right hand of God. Grieve, but then take hold of the resurrection power of God.

Take the time to grieve. Grieve thoroughly, wrestle with the hard questions. Do not be afraid to question God; He is not offended nor is His self-esteem unable to handle our honesty. I rarely pray that God will take away struggle, but rather that people will see Him in their struggle. If that's where you are right now- in the midst of the struggle- you can choose not to read the rest of this for the time being. I know that as a 3rd party removed from the emotional pain & such, there is a certain "objectivity" that potentially comes off as "giving easy answers," insensitive, etc. Hopefully that is not what's received because that's not what is meant to be communicated. Yet at the same time, when sorrow has run its course, I hope to call you out of the valley, to remind you of the God who exists & a Savior in Christ to fix your eyes on.

Death humbles us. It forces us to realize that we are not God. Not only can we not keep ourselves from dying and we cannot keep others from dying... we also cannot chart our life. Scripture reminds us of this in James:
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.
Death reminds us that what counts in the end, is not the grand plans we have for our future, but God's plan for us. Imagine all the effort and energy placed into storing up for the future, for gearing all of life for the sole purpose of getting into a certain school, getting a certain job, reaching a certain status in life, etc. And yet at the next moment, God can take your life from you.

What's to be done?
- Use this opportunity to point people to Jesus. By this I do not mean "put on a false image & say that everything will be ok because I know God." Even though there is truth in saying that knowing God does make a difference, perhaps something more honest communicates better. Point to Jesus, God who became man, to suffer and die, who experienced the death of his close friends (i.e. John the Baptist, Lazarus), and yet who has the power over death itself. Jesus, the one who promised that death is not the end, and that a glorious hope awaits us who know Him. Yet the sobering truth that those who do not know Him, do not have such hope.
- Examine your own life. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" says Psalm 90:12. Because indeed our days on this earth are numbered... and tragedy & death remind us of that...ask God to grant that wisdom, to live out our days well.

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Some of you reading this might not know God, might not believe in God after what happened, or might have a lot of questions for God (assuming you believe He exists). It's ok, your questions, anger, confusion, etc. is normal & not offensive in the least. I would encourage you to talk to a friend who can tell you more about God, who can explain and answer questions, but more importantly to be with you in the difficult times. God does not promise easy answers; but at least think about it.
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Praying for you all

posted by Andy Chang @ 1:04 AM