What Hope is There Six Feet Under?
To be honest, death really scares me, though not in the same way I get scared by horror movies and flying cockroaches. It’s the uncertainty of death I find absolutely frightening—there is no way of knowing when the “unwanted visitor” is going to come a-knocking, and no way of bolting the door.
The slew of media reports on the passing of Singapore’s founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew, splashed continuously on television screens and newspapers last week, had me thinking about death over and over again. While his death ought not to have come as a surprise—considering his age and state of health—it was a shock to realize that a formidable man like him had actually died.
As I reflected on the state funeral, which coincided with Palm Sunday, Psalm 43:5 came to mind.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”
While Singapore has indeed lost a great statesman, we have not lost our source of hope. The Lord reminds us not to put our trust in men, who have but breath in their nostrils. Instead, we are encouraged to put our hope in God, who sent His son Jesus into the world to be our Saviour. Jesus Christ has died and risen, overcoming death once and for all. As Romans 6:8–10 says, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”
Physical death is a part of my journey of intimacy with Christ, taking me a step closer to finally meeting Him face to face. Dr Chua How Chuang, a missionary I loved and respected, had this to say (before he went home to be with the Lord in March this year): “Indeed when a loved one or we ourselves fall critically ill, our immediate reaction is to pray for healing. I wonder if that reaction does not reflect an unconscious love for the things of this world than of things above.”
Now that I know for certain that there is hope even in death, my perspective on critical illness and earthly suffering is beginning to change. Instead of shying away and being at a loss for words at a person’s deathbed, I want to share this hope I have because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for me.
I am consumed with evil thoughts of ending my life. I am in a situation of losing hope at all. Seems to be no hope of seeing the light. I am a Christian totally lost. I want to escape and run away with this problem but I do not where to go. God seems to be so far because of my sins. I am like Judas. Ending this life always creep my head. May my God and Savior forgive with this thoughts and being unfaithful to Him.
Hi, Desiderio
Do not be discouraged. Continue to confess your thoughts to Him and seek His words. God bless you. Amen
Hey desiderio, come on, cheer up my brother!! Sometimes in life you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom and there is no way back up. But in such circumstances what you need to do is seek the Lord’s face. HE is always there just beside you, even through the most difficult storms. Continue to open up to GOD in prayers, have faith in HIM and DON’T LOSE HOPE!
HE will certainly guide you through whatever circumstances you may be facing. I truly understand how you might be feeling now as I have been there myself, so I can confidently tell you that “time” is the answer to every situation. The question is: how patient are you? Pray and seek for the Lord’s wisdom to know what is HIS plan for you. Your, I quote, “no hope of seeing the light” might be GOD’s “the path to achieve MY Will in your life” so, please, I beg you, don’t give in to the devil talking in your head and telling you to do things which he knows will displease our Almighty Father.
May the Peace of Christ keep you, brother (I’m guessing from your nickname that you’re not a sister). GOD be with you and GOD help us all. GOD Bless
Thank you for dropping words of encouragement. There is more in life to see. I may not understand it now because I am spiritually down at this moment. God remains faithful though I am unfaithful. This is what the grace of God all about.
Deciderio,
My heart goes out to you in your dark moments. Know that someone in this world is thinking about you, praying for you and sending love.
I too struggle with dark thoughts, something that I’ve allowed to happen amongst chronic illness.
I pray for the both of us today. May we band together in glimmers of hope and prayer.
Please don’t feel alone. Tell someone in your family or a close confidant, who will gladly be by your side so that you can go through this with strength and peace of a fellow friend. If you live in the United States, there is also a suicide hotline. 1 800 273 8255.
Consider also to read Our Daily Bread, odb.org for today, May 6th. It references God’s work through our pain. It is called “The School of Pain”.
Be well, sending love, hugs and positive thoughts your way.
Christina