Death is not the end - or is it?

Wow, this past week has been absolutely brutal at our church. We have lost several people - some in tragic ways and others, just the way you would want to go out. Clearly, the funerals for people who lived well, lived for Christ, were a blessing to others and die as you would expect and want to, are the best funerals. At these funerals you get to truly celebrate the life well lived - talk about all the lives touched by that person. Laugh at the funny stuff, remember the good times, because with these people, the good times far out way any bad times. Of course nobody is perfect, but these funerals are such a joy. Mainly because you know the person is in heaven, because they left the world a better place, and so many people turn out at the wedding because they respected this life so much.
Then there is the funeral of the tragic loss. MUCH to soon to die and so sudden - it takes your breath away. Not only can't you breath, but the pain of loss is so great - there is a hole, a void that leaves you doubting everything. How can this be? How could this happen? How could a God of love allow this to happen? It is so brutal, so final, so horrible. You feel so deeply for the loved ones left to deal with the loss and pain. For many of these deaths, it does not get any worse that this. At these funerals there is such a deep sadness, even a question of where is HOPE found? It strikes you at the CORE of your very soul. You begin to long for anything that can take it all back - the happy memories of the person seem to hurt worse than the bad memories. After the shock of the loss, the pain - and then the anger! The range of emotions is intense and brutal. It is with this kind of loss that the scar is so deep in our hearts that it will never ever go away. While the pain will lessen a bit over time - the memory of the loss will last forever. So where do we turn? What do we do?
God does NOT create pain and agony here on earth to teach us lessons. Life doles out the pain and agony. Life creates the loss and tragic circumstances. It is only by turning to God and the work that Jesus performed on the cross do we feel the grace and peace that only God can offer. By turning our pain, and hurt, and anger over to God - He begins to shape that pain and anger into a transformational event in our lives. He uses the entire range of human emotion to bring healing, to bring His message of love and Grace. There are no answers for why life happens the way it does. In this life there is good and there is evil. There is unexplainable circumstances. There is, at times, intolerable pain and agony. But there is HOPE! By turning to God and to Jesus Christ we find the living and everlasting water - the grace that pours from heaven to soothe our burning hearts. God takes the pain, transforms it and causes beautiful things to come from the experience. It may take us a long time to see it - but if we turn to Him and open up to these thoughts - we can truly be transformed by His Grace. A love that penetrates deep, a love that only God can provide - but we have to be willing to go to Him and seek His love and guidance in all things - but especially in times of great loss.
Death is definitely NOT the end. Death is only the beginning of life everlasting with our creator and loving God. But we have to take the steps necessary to experience a life everlasting with our God and His only son Jesus Christ! Don't wait, take the step today! For we know not when our final day on earth will come.