Psalm 116:15 (NIV) - Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
On Monday the Associated Press reported that the
Maine State Police are investigating the death of a motorist in a crash on
Interstate 295 in Gardiner after a passer-by noticed the vehicle. Apparently,
the crash may have gone unnoticed for as many as five days. Investigators believe
it happened on December 28th.
That’s the day that the driver was last seen going to work. The story
then says that no one reported him missing. The car came to rest at the bottom
of a steep embankment, so it must not have been obvious to others on the
highway. Still, there is a sadness to the fact that he was not reported missing
for five days. It makes you wonder if anyone cared, and what the story behind
the story was.
This reminded me of another story I read recently,
about Yvette Vickers, a former B-movie star, best known for her role in Attack of the 50-Foot Woman. It seems
that her body was found in 2011, after having lain dead for about a year. A
neighbor noticed cobwebs and yellowing letters in her mailbox and found a way
into the house to investigate. Navigating through piles of junk mail and strewn
clothing to the upstairs, the neighbor found Ms. Vickers’ “mummified” body in
her bedroom, the heater still on and computer still running. The social “circle”
of this 83 year old woman had come to virtually nothing and she lived – and
then died – in isolation. In a world of growing digital connections, she is a
reminder to us that technology cannot ultimately solve the problem of
loneliness. We have Facetime and Skype and Facebook and email and mobile phones
and internet and more. Personally, I am thankful for them. I get to see my
grandson “live” and talk with my daughter at the same time. But technology will
never replace being together in person… face-to-face.
Both of these stories speak to our hearts about loneliness
and aloneness at the time of death. Most of the people I have ever observed
near death want more than anything else NOT to be alone. They long for someone
they love – someone who loves them – to be with them. That presence makes a
powerful impact. But it cannot always be this way. And when I read or hear
stories like these it prods a bit of melancholy within.
For we who know the Lord, there is comfort, though.
When you are in Jesus Christ, you are never alone. The Holy Spirit dwells in
you and the presence of the Lord never leaves you. He sees everything that
others do not see. He hears everything you say, and He knows your heart
completely. He promises to stay. For centuries many followers of Jesus have
died hard, lonely deaths. Persecuted Christians around the world lose their
lives often cut off from people they love. But they can never be cut off from
the Lord. He gives grace even in the darkest valley of the shadow. This is
another way His goodness is manifested to us, and we can be encouraged by His
faithful promises. Death is an uncomfortable subject to think about, and we
typically in conversation talk about everything else… anything else… first. But
our good God has us in His hands and is always with us. He gives peace
regarding one of the greatest fears we face in life. Jesus is its conqueror and
we are resurrection people because of the Gospel. Thank You, Lord.
Numbers 23:10 (NIV) Who can count the dust of Jacob or number
the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my
end be like theirs!"
Deuteronomy 31:8
(NIV) The LORD himself
goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Psalm 23:4 (NIV) Even though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and
your staff, they comfort me.
Proverbs 14:32 (NIV) When calamity comes, the wicked are brought
down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.
Romans 8:35-39 (NIV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your
sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are
more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 14:7-8
(NIV) 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us
dies to himself alone. 8 If we live, we live to the
Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong
to the Lord.
Philippians
1:20-21 (NIV) 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I
will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as
always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
PRAYER: Father, thank you that in Christ I am never
alone. I place my life… and my death… in your hands, confident of your presence
and grace. Deliver me from the fear that accompanies death – even the idea of
it. You are the God of the living, and you are my God. Be glorified in me I
pray. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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