Thursday: Loss of Life
As human beings, we know the reality of death. We read about it, we see it, and we maybe have even come close to facing it ourselves.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:26. How is death described, and why is it described this way?
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Who, having lost a loved one, doesn’t experience for themselves just how great an enemy death is? On the other hand, the dead have it “good”. If, in the Lord, they close their eyes and in what seems like an instant to them, they are raised to immortality. “To the believer, death is but a small matter … To the Christian, death is but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness. The life is hid with Christ in God, and “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory”. – Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 787.
No, it’s the living, especially the remaining friends or family members, who know the real pain and grief following a death. The fact is that grief is a natural, normal response to loss. It is the emotional suffering we experience when something or someone we love is taken away.
The grieving process is not the same for everyone, but in general most people go through several stages. The first and most common reaction to the death of a loved one is shock and denial, even when the death is expected. Shock is your emotional protection from being too suddenly overwhelmed by the loss, and it may last from two to three months. You may also go through a time when you are constantly absorbed by thoughts of your loved one, even during common, daily tasks. Often conversations turn to your loss or loved one. This period may last from six months to a year.
The stage of despair and depression is a long period of grief, probably the most painful and protracted stage for the griever, during which you gradually come to terms with the reality of your loss. During this stage, you may experience a range of emotions, such as anger, guilt, regret, sadness, and anxiety. The goal of grieving is not to eliminate all your pain or the memories of your loss. In the final stage of recovery, you begin to have a renewed interest in daily activities and to function normally from day to day.
| What comforting thoughts can you find in the following passages? Rom. 8:31-39, Rev. 21:4, 1 Cor. 15:52-57. |
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My first recollection of a funeral is when I was in the seventh grade attending one for one of my Dad's work associates. My Dad's friend had died in an unfortunate boating accident that nearly took my dad's life. I remember looking at the lifeless form of a man in the casket and realizing that could have been my pops as well. In fact, to be frank, it could have been me, too. Dad had planned to have me and my younger brother come with him to fish the Pacific off the coast of Oregon the day before. The morning of the day of the accident, Dad changed his mind and let us boys sleep in.
Growing up during my teens and early twenties I had known some 16 to 20 individuals personally who had either taken their own lives, were killed in auto accidents, passed due to chronic disease, and even a murder. It was jarring on my out looks on life and God's existence. I carried survivor's guilt for many years afterwards. The experience of death of loved ones, friends and acquaintances can take a toll on a person's worldview.
I try not to take life for granted and live a careful life. It can all end so fast and in unpredictable ways. Due to this reality of our existence, I have found great comfort in trusting God, the Author of Life. There is hope beyond graves. We are not left to become simply fodder for worms. We do sorrow, but thankfully not as others without this hope.
Great will be the experience in declaring, "O, death where is thy sting, O grave thy victory?"
Life is short. I have attended many funerals but can't remember crying at any. From my biblical teachings, I knew from an early age that life was more than a grave. Funerals were for the living, therefore, I never really felt for the empty vessel that was presented for all to see. I always prayed for those in great pain to be comforted but was at peace knowing Jesus was preparing a place for those on the straight and narrow path. I no longer fear death but look forward to seeing Jesus. Stay faithful!
The hardest experience for a brethren is of a loss of a friend or a family member. It brings grief, sorrow and depression in someones life and many people end in denial of accepting the reality.
The book of JAMES 4:14, says that life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away, so we really need to be ready every time and have hope that We shall see our fallen brethren When Christ comes again, There will be no tears anymore.
God is near to the brokenhearted and those with contrite spirit, He has promised to heal and binds up our wounds so surely He will accomplish that.
Every time I have attended a funeral I always asked myself, Are my ways right and am always challenged to consider my ways because no one knows when he/she will finally exit this corrupted Earth and we all need to be in Harmony with our creator. Mathew 10:28; Therefore do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
May God give us strength to endure the hard times and comfort every family bereaving.
My father died when I was only ten years old.
I was the "apple of his eye".
He meant everything to me, as it seemed he was the only person who loved me.
This was especially pronounced because I was adopted, and i had known what it was like to have no one at all. I suffered greatly from abandonment issues, as so many adopted children do who were not adopted until later in life.
So for these reasons, it hit me especially hard.
I think i grieved for a good ten years or so.
My adopted mother went into a deep depression at the time, so she was little comfort. She had her own issues.
It would have been really good, as a kid, to have had someone to talk to about this. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
My life was pretty scarred by this.
You shouldn't assume that because someone doesn't show a lot of grief outwardly that they are handling it just fine, and don't need assistance.
I was basically in shock for a long time.
Fortunately I had my church and Jesus to cling to like a raft in the storm.
I am confident that i will see my father someday in Jesus kingdom.
God bless everyone who is grieving.
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me. Ps 120:1
Let not your heart be trouble...,I go to prepare a place for you. Jn 14:1-3
Depression and grief over the lost of a loved one.
It was exactly one year ago that many of us read this lesson. Loss of Life. Many of us had lost loved one but no one had ever experienced such a disaster as we are seeing occurring presently with the Covid-19 pandemic.
After sin entered into the world, then death followed. Death was the first enemy to destroy humans spiritually then physically, and death will be our last enemy to be destroy both physically and spiritually. Death has been from the beginning in Eden, yet after approximately six thousands years we cannot grow accustomed to it.
Like many others, years ago I have seen the lost of lives in my family. I lost my maternal and paternal grandparents, my father, my 'god'-father, my 'god'-mother, a brother, a nephew, a niece, many neighbors.
Presently, many people have experienced death of their loved one. The closer the relationship with someone, the harder we can sink into depression. Many grieve longer than others. With the present pandemic, some people cannot even grieve. Some saw their loved ones few days before they got ill or died. Some saw them a week or so ago but that was it, they weren't able to say good bye. With such a trauma, many go into deep sorrow that others cannot heal. Grief is a path that others walk alone despite others might try to comfort us. It takes time to get over it. Some might talk about the situation for years and all they want to talk about is that one incident, that one death. Some seek counselling because of deep depression after the lost of a loved one.
Let us remember the words of Paul. Death is a sleep, but the dead in Christ shall rise first. Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed...
1 Cor 15:51-58. But, I would not have you to be ignorant,......
1 Thess 4:13-18
Therefore comfort one another with these saying.
Is there a balm in Gilead to soothe the sin sick soul?