Neda, Farrah, Michael, et al!

The media frenzy over the death of the pop idol, Michael Jackson, overshadowed the reports of other deaths during the past week. Last Saturday, Neda Soltan – a young woman whose name would probably never have been known outwith her own circle of family, friends, and workmates – was gunned down on the streets of Teheran. Her death made the headlines all around the world. On Thursday, the actress – and former ‘Charlie’s Angel – Farrah Fawcett also died: a victim of the rare anal cancer. And, of course, hundreds of others, whose name most of us will never know, died in a wide variety of circumstances, and from a wide variety of causes.

Of course, death is ‘the great leveller’. Rich or poor; famous or unknown; old or young; not one of us is able to avoid death. We may fiddle our expenses; we may get our way by the use of bullying tactics; we may abuse our fellow-man. But the moment comes when death lays its cold hand upon us, and not all of the wealth, fame, or power that this world could ever offer, is of any use when that happens.

This, as I have shared in an earlier post, is where the disciple of Jesus has a wonderful assurance. Paul, writing to the early followers of the Christ, in the city of Thessalonica, had this to say: “And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died, so that you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died. I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet Him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever.” (I Thess.4:13-17)

I have watched scenes of great grief on my television screen over these past days. And it is perfectly natural that we should grieve over those whom we have loved, and who we will never see again in this life. But if they, and we, are one with the Lord Jesus, then we have the joy of knowing that He has already conquered death – and that “…overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” (Rom.8:37)

May you have that deep assurance for yourself.