Grief

Comfort for Heartfelt Pain (By R. R. Soucy, RC) Dear heart-stricken mourner, Jesus knows the grief and anguish you feel. He knows the desolation of your spirit and its yearning after a solace this world cannot give. As you go to the grave of your beloved, let not your tears blind you, neither hang down your head that you may not see that Jesus has come to sustain you. Hear His gracious, loving voice from beside the tomb reminding you, “I am the Resurrection and the life.” Your beloved’s earth sojourn is over and has lead to a life hereafter. Your beloved is not dead, s/he died to live. His (or her) believing soul lived with Christ here, now is with Christ, while his Christian dust is sleeping until he will rise immortal, glorious, and incorruptible at the resurrection of the last day. (Be aware that God sees inside man’s heart while we see only outwardly.) All of your love, watching, and anxious care could not save him from sickness and suffering – and the tomb; but the love of Jesus has delivered him from all, and taken his soul up to prepare him for that sinless, sorrow less home. There, God promises there shall be no more death, no more crying, no more anxiety or disappointment, no more pain; for the former things have passed away and Jesus makes all things new. Your loved one’s last breath here in body, was his next, first breath in God’s presence in soul. Look, then, beyond this present scene of your mortal grief; look instead to the home of perpetual bliss. About 2000 years ago Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer, has lain in the tomb and sweetened it for the inescapable sleep of His brothers and sisters (that is you and me). As you stoop to see within the cave, see that our Resurrected Master has been raised up through the everlasting doors to the Paradise of His Father and our Father, destroying the sting of death. There in Paradise is where we are born, to seek, to follow. Frankly, that is our life’s mission. In your time, when your soul draws near the celestial sphere, you will find waiting to welcome you one more radiant than an angel, in whose soul you will recognize you have not lost, but who went before you obedient in faith to our Father’s house. Our lives are meant to be that simple. Man complicates it. Choose. Words of a Christian pondering Paradise for himself could go like this: Consolation If I should die and leave you here awhile, Be not like others, sore undone, who keep Long vigils by the silent dust, and weep; For my sake turn again to life and smile, Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine; Complete unfinished tasks of mine, and I perchance, may therein comfort you. As for my personal experience, I am somewhat comforted knowing that my spouse lived her earthly life in conduct with Christ, in Christ, and for Christ in her heart and mind. Out of a family of twelve siblings I had the pleasure of knowing at least three that lived pious lives in Christ. Armed with such thoughts I am further comforted in believing that Heaven (i.e. Paradise) is as an old prayer states: “…a place of refreshment, light, happiness, and peace.” In such an atmosphere, you can only imagine the possibilities. In my thoughts I pray those souls that are rejoined are full of love (as required before anyone can live in God’s Kingdom), and commune with one another in spirit. For me, my imagination relishes in the idea that loved ones are reunited, meet and talk, may even have tea and once favorite snacks together. Although I do not believe food or drink as we know it is necessary for sustenance; we are, after all, discussing “eternal life, i.e. eternal salvation. This article intends to share with you that which you can discover for your own consolation by delving into Scripture, the Holy Bible of God the Father (the Old Testament) and of Jesus, God the Son (the New Testament). Prayerfully and hopefully, you, too, would enjoy some consolation when you are aware of God-fearing people (i.e. family members, relatives, friends, et al) that went before or after your loved one. Because you honestly believe that they were obedient Christians, you, too, can imagine their being reunited and getting together again in Heaven. Here is what I am saying: A man may go to heaven Without health, Without honors, Without learning, Without friends; but, He can never get to heaven without Christ. Be aware that, as you continue to live and breathe here on God’s beautiful earth, He does not forbid you from dreaming what is possible. Knowing the contents of God’s Guide (the Bible) holds more value for you then you can begin to imagine. Life’s story unfolds with its real meaning. You learn of your true reason for living. You come to realize that there is more to life than what you see around you. You may have said to yourself as have countless before you, “There has got to be something else.” There is, and “The Truth WILL set you free.” It is always meaningful before reading the Bible to say a prayer (your own words), humbly acknowledging your nothingness before God, our Creator. While you are at it remember, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). There, I went and said it, "prayer," (your conversation with God). Yes, with the proper attitude the prayer of a righteous man IS powerful and effective. Pray for the souls of your beloved departed that they, in due time, enjoy the promises of Christ. Pray also for strength in living the remainder of your life piously so that one day (when, you do not know), you, too, will be worthy to see the face of God, and be reunited with your beloved. Unfortunately, not everyone reading this tract will accept these suggestions. That is tragic, but understandable, considering that stubbornness and sin of pride is human nature. Jesus said the gate to Paradise is narrow while the gate to perdition is wide. It is written that He made man in His own image, but He also gave man a free will to choose between life and death. No one can change that. We, simple, ordinary people, et al, who work to know and love Him with all our hearts, all our minds, all our strength, are called to share the Good News with all who are willing to listen and learn. While you are living it is always your choice. When your sojourn on earth is over, it is over. There is no way to change the Judgment that is to be, it is final. Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of God. In this age to claim ignorance is clearly unacceptable. You are never alone; God knows all and sees all. It is my fervent hope and prayer that with the help and understanding of this article your grief becomes manageable, and that your mind, heart and body become as new. God’s Peace and comfort be with you always, Thanks for visiting. - Bob Rom. 15:13