A peace filled the room as I looked into his eyes
and prayed, as that is all I knew what to do.
I was uncomfortable, as I am not a pro at this,
because I don't know what I am doing,
so I prayed first to
GOD
to give me the words~
because what else do you do when you know the person
you are praying with does not have much more time left on this earth~
You PRAY.
It isn't fun looking at death in its face,
even though it is a reality for all of us.
But when you get so close to it
you realize it is really real
and there is no turning back~
so where else do you look~
but to
HIM
because
HE is all we have and all we need, especially in those moments when
we have no control over the one thing that we think we have control over ~
our time here on earth.
My friend Paul is in "hospice", a word that I am getting tired of hearing
because it is just an appetizer to what is to come.
It is again a time for me to face my reality, as we will all get a turn
because our days our numbered here
BUT
our days in ETERNITY are not, as they never end.
So what am I afraid of when I look into the eyes of someone who is getting ready for his eternity?
Is it fear of the unknown, even though we are told that ~
"HE will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Or is it my wondering if I really believe what JESUS said to the criminal on the cross
next to HIM~
"JESUS answered him, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with ME in paradise'." Luke 23:43
Oh my faith is so big, but at times like this it is so small~
because it isn't fun looking death in its face
because it makes you look at death in its face for yourself~
BUT then you realize that
JESUS is REAL!
HE suffered more than any one us will because
GOD hates sin so much that HE killed it on the cross,.
So that in these moments when I pray for
GOD'S PEACE & PRESENCE
to overwhelm my friend's heart,
JESUS comes in and becomes more than REAL
because
HE said so to Martha who was mourning her brother's death~
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in ME, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in ME shall never die..." John 11:25-26a
Because JESUS conquered death on the cross~
" O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law;
but thanks be to GOD, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our
LORD JESUS CHRIST.".1 Corinthians 15:55-57
BUT then
JESUS asks the question to Martha just as HE asks all of us~
"DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?" John 11: 26b
Will you pray for Paul, and for all of those in hospice,
for GOD to overwhelm their hearts
with
JESUS
and our own hearts as we are always faced with our eternity.
JESUS IS NOT A RESOLUTION~
HE IS REAL!