2006-11-16 - Tomorrow Almost Never Dies

Rev 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (NIV)

With all due apologies to Ian Fleming... tomorrow will die one day.

Our 17 year old cat has lung cancer. I am told that lung cancer in cat is almost always a secondary cancer, which means there is something else going on that has been happening even longer. She has lived a very good life with us, and we will continue to make her remaining days happy ones. Prayer for our family would be very much appreciated as the day of our beloved pet's departure will surely come too soon.

This constant reminder of mortality over the past two weeks has been the cause for some thought, some sadness and assurance.

There are many who do not believe that this life will continue. They live as they please and think that death will be the end, and there is no accountability for their actions. I fear that they will be terribly disappointed in the moment that is meant to be their greatest victory. That victory would be given to them by their Lord that cared enough to die for them and rise to make a way for them to live with Him forever.

For those who do believe in Christ and wait for His return or their homecoming through death, that day will be the end of one journey and the beginning of a new eternal one. We will rejoin our family and friends who have passed from this life before us. We will be recognized by them and know them as well. We will make new friends. We will sit with Mary and Martha at the feet of Jesus and listen and learn.

There will be tears and sadness for those who refused the gift of eternity so freely offered. Finally, death and Hades will be consigned to the lake of fire and sealed away for all eternity. All our tears will be wiped away and our hearts finally healed of all hurts. The Lion will lay down with the Lamb, and other animals will be there too I hope - wild animals and former pets all at peace. Imagine a lion eating grass. Time itself will cease to be needed, and everything we know and see now will be replaced with the perfection that God has wanted to share with us since the days of Adam and Eve.

Death is not a popular topic, but now and then we are compelled to consider it. I ask you to be open to it when those times come for you. They don't have to be morbid or woeful. There are many facets, and they are all part of the road we must walk.

Selah.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org