Why does the death of a loved one hurt so much? The Holy Spirit ministered something to me a while back that I am yet awaiting the fullness of understanding. He said that we grieve or hurt most when a loved one dies and enters Hell (at least the contemplation of this possibility, which only God knows), but He grieves or hurts more by their rejection of Him in their life. Now I ponder, “Why does the death of a loved one hurt so much?” This question sheds light and understanding on what God was saying concerning grief. We grieve over the separation of death, and especially the reality or uncertainty of a loved one’s eternal state and destination. Whereas, God is much more aware of this separation “in life” than us, since in reality, outside of Christ, we ARE ALREADY DEAD!
Dearly beloved, I do not mean to bring our thoughts or spirits down through this discussion and contemplation of death and life. Yet, death has a way of putting life in perspective. When we are faced with death, it does not FEEL good at all. Yet, it is a gift from God. Scripture states, "I have seen the painful labor and exertion and miserable business which God has given to the sons of men with which to exercise and busy themselves. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (AMP, Ecclesiastes 3:10-11).
You see, the reality of eternity is in our hearts! We can choose to ignore it, push it aside, and reject this reality or we can choose to embrace it and truly LIVE! The more we reject the reality and truth of eternity within our hearts is the more we are desensitized to it. Look at the next verse, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live”. Solomon was voicing our human or fleshly response to the reality of eternity in our hearts! Our flesh seeks out happiness, and what is considered “good” to the flesh is far different from what our hearts know is GOOD (For God alone is Good), due to the witness of eternity that God has planted within us. Yet, when we are faced with DEATH, no matter how much we have tried to SILENCE Wisdom’s voice, the reality of eternity is awakened within us!
Now, some may think, “Well, I’m already saved, so I don’t need the reality of eternity to be awakened in my heart.” Really? We must reconsider this! For in our Western mentality we have been deceived into believing that Salvation can be narrowed down to our church attendance, a raised hand, a walk down to the altar or a sinner’s prayer, when this is the farthest thing from the truth! Salvation is the ministry of reconciliation, and it is a process! Therefore, if we are honest with ourselves, we still need to be saved in many areas of our lives! In fact, God has revealed to me that this deception of the American church has deceived many into believing that they are “saved” and ready for death and their subsequent time of reckoning with God, when they are not! So, God in His mercy grants us encounters with DEATH that awakens the reality of eternity within our hearts. Through death, God speaks to us and reveals to us the true message of LIFE, which is His call to repentance. The Spirit of God is crying out as the voice of Wisdom in the streets, "Will you listen to the call of eternity in your hearts? . . . Will you be wholly reconciled to Your God and Creator?" Then in God's mercy, He allows us to encounter DEATH, which amplifies Wisdom's cry. Thus, regardless, of what stage of the reconciliation process we find ourselves, God's voice still cries out, "Will you listen to the call of eternity in your hearts? . . . Will you be wholly reconciled to Your God and Creator?"
© 2012 Christine Lombard, All rights reserved, Use only with permission
