We came to the intersection of two country highways. The car just before us came to the stop sign at the T. They pulled out, without looking, just as Harley was coming up the road. The bike hit the side of the car and so did the riders. I jumped out of the car and ran to the man. He was spasming. I think he broke his neck. Very shocking! Pam and our daughter Anna went to the woman. She was terribly broken up and barely conscious, having trouble breathing with broken ribs. She would recover. He was off to eternity.
As a pastor I have conducted a number of funerals. This may seem strange to you but I have found them to be one of the most satisfying aspects of ministry. There is something reflexive that happens in me when I am in an event where death is pushing his dirty nose, it is almost knee jerk. I feel a confidence and boldness as I remember that death doesn’t get the last word. My Lord Jesus does! I love sharing that confidence with others.
As Paul spoke about the general resurrection he said death is the “last enemy.” He quotes the prophet Hosea. How fine is it to taunt at death! “‘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” (I Cor 15:55-57). In Revelation we see Death personified being thrown into the lake of fire. Burn baby burn! Good riddance.
My friend, thanks to the remarkable expenditure of our Lord Jesus you can go toe to toe and nose to nose with death, confidently! Death may bring its momentary sorrow but it’s missing its stinger for those who have embraced Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life!
Steven C Johnson