On Death

It's been a somber week in the world. First Terri Schiavo died, now the Pope lies near death as I write this. And don't forget the hundreds of people who lost their lives in Indonesia this week with yet another earthquake. Death and dying has been on the minds of a lot of people this week, perhaps a lot of people who haven't really considered death much before.

I'm not going to sound off on my views of the Terri Schiavo situation; honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. And it's easy for me to spout off "Here's what I would do in this situation", but it's not MY situation to deal with.

The point I do want to make, however, is that regardless of whether or not letting Terri die was the "right" thing to do, God can and does use this situation for good. Who knows how many people are now thinking about and talking about their own deaths with their loved ones--and more importantly, are thinking about LIFE after death? Maybe all the focus this week on death in the news has caused more people to seriously think about what happens after they die.

I believe that if Terri Schiavo had lived another 15 years, God could have used her to bring people to Him. And He can use her death this week to bring people to Him as well.

As Christians, we need to remember that, for us, death is not really a tragic event. That does not mean that it's not sad, or that we shouldn't mourn or be upset about it. But death is only the beginning of a new life, an infinitely more incredible life for us.

Remembering that should give us joy and hope in the midst of suffering. At the same time, it should give us an urgency to share the Gospel with those who don't know Christ, for whom death truly will be a tragic event if they are unsaved.

This is not easy for me to do. I struggle to remember all of this; so often I don't feel the urgency to share Christ with those around me who don't know Him. Perhaps all the attention on death and dying will give me a greater sense of urgency. Who knows how God will use all these situations to draw people closer to Him.