Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

Ever since the Fall, when mankind sinned in Eden, humans have lived under the shadow of death. The only light that can ease that darkness is the light of faith in Jesus Christ, who went through death so that we might have life. The difference between the death of a believer and a non-believer can be very striking, and I’m not talking about church membership here. There are plenty of church members who are functional non-believers! Some people are greatly affected by the fear of death even when there seems to be no immediate probability of it, and some of those even say they are Christians. That’s not to say that even a strong Christian has no fear of death at all, because there is always an element of the unknown, and there is certainly a major element of separation. However, such people have light in the middle of the darkness, and that is worth more than all of this world’s pleasures and wealth.

Three retired Japan missionaries from my parents’ denomination died last week. As with my own parents, and with Cathy’s, there is a large element of grateful celebration in their passing. That doesn’t necessarily make it easy for their survivors, especially their spouses, but it certainly makes it easier. When I am less than a year from the age at which my father died, this subject comes up in my mind with some frequency. For myself, I have no fear of death at all, but I know what my mother went through after my father died, and I don’t want that for Cathy. On the other hand, the thought of her going first certainly gives me pause! However, we not only have the assurance of eternal life, we also have the assurance that God’s grace is all we need for this life, however long or short it might be. (2 Corinthians 12:9) The point for us now is to try to put as many people as possible into the position of having that same assurance. That’s not at all a matter of psychology, but of getting them into right relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, so that the Holy Spirit can speak that assurance into their hearts.

Father, thank You indeed for the assurance of eternal life. Thank You for things like Cathy’s experience of death, from which You sent her back, and the book I’m reading right now of a small boy’s experience of heaven. However, those things are merely confirmations. Help me keep my eyes on Christ, and lead many, many others to do the same, so that we may walk in Your light in all circumstances, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!