Like The Grass

3/28/2016

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him.                [Psalm 103:15-17a; NKJV]

            Three good men died in Africa yesterday, not unusual in itself, but I had met one of them several years ago and knew of the others; good men; men who loved God. Yesterday they arose to unknowingly spend their last day together, and it saddens me because even though loosely connected to me, they were members of my eternal family.

            I’ve always wondered why some deaths seem more poignant than others. Some people pass on and it’s much more of a shock, and affects me more deeply than at other times with other people. I’ve never understood it, and can never predict it; that’s just the way it is.

These three men died violently and tragically, and in spite of their faith and their evidenced love for God it should be noted that in a spiritual sense, they were murdered…and we have to wonder why? Why them and why now? Why was it allowed? But on this side of the grave some things are never fully explained. That’s just the way it is.

Yes, this was a loss, and these men all left behind loved ones who are struggling on the front lines of grief today, and how can they be comforted? Well meaning saints will quote familiar scripture passages to them in desperate attempts to minister comfort, but perhaps Job’s three friends had a better sense of it when they remained silent for a week, simply ministering to Job through their enduring presence. Many times silence is best.

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Even knowing with Christian certainty that these men are with God, and not forever lost to any who believe in Jesus, will not at first, mitigate their empty places in their families, and perhaps only in hindsight will those who remain be able to see the silver lining on the presently dark clouds; but it’s a silver lining those who are dead while they live will never have, for conjecture and hopeful fiction are scant comfort at any time.

My prayer today is for those who remain, that the taste of the bitter ashes of loss will soon become a miracle of nourishment to greater strength, and a death-defying certainty for them that God is always good – and none are ever dead to Him.

Perhaps today is my last day…perhaps yours, and all we’ve stored up will belong soon enough to others. All our earth-based plans will perish with us, and like the grass of the field, our turns will be over, as the turns of these three men ended without warning yesterday. I wonder, what will we leave behind? What will our lives leave for those who yet live? Will we leave anything eternal for them to feed on after our passing, or merely barns full of stuff to get rid of, like the chaff of inert seeds? I guess the choice is up to each of us, and quite obviously right now is the only allotment of time we have to choose. I hope we choose well.

Rest in peace brothers, and may your families and friends grow stronger in those things eternal, because of your lives.

We who believe, will all follow you soon.

John