Martin Luther about devotion. “It happens often that in my meditation I come across such rich thoughts, that I disregard the other six petitions (of the Lord’s Prayer)…. I have learned much more from this kind of listening than I could have from much reading and reflection.” (“A Simple Way to Pray”)
That happened to me the other morning. “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8). That last line stopped my reading. When I die, You are there.
I admit I’m apprehensive about death, not death as a theological topic, but I’m fearful about my own dying. I know what I believe, but a voice whispers, “What if you close your eyes and there is nothing. You are no more?” Psalm 139 says God is. “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). God is not just omnipresent; He is here with me now, and He will be at my side when He calls me to Himself. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). My mistake is thinking about myself when that time comes. No, Dale, let yourself go and focus on Jesus. “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
After sharing my apprehension with some pastors, they essentially shot me down. Where’s the empathy? When we hear sermons about Christian confidence in death, we think…or I do; is this only me? “Something must be wrong with me because I’m fearful.” C.F.W. Walther: “Many preachers picture the Christian as a person who does not fear death. That is a serious misrepresentation, because the great majority of Christians are afraid to die. If a Christian does not fear death and declares that he is ready to die at any time, God has bestowed a special grace upon him. Some have expressed this sentiment before their physician told them that they would not live another night, but after that they were seized with a terrible fear.” (Law and Gospel, 313)
Thoughts not from a sermon but from the Spirit in devotion.
Dale..
Thank you for your honesty and willingness to reveal the very weakness I, and many Christians experience...that of "What if it's not real?"
I suffer in that moment, bringing me to remember my favorite Gospel verse, "I have called you by name. You are mine." (Imprinted on a plaque from my vicarage youth group!) Is 43
Seems to me those who shout the loudest need to revisit Numbers 22
Posted by: Dennis H. Bennett | 08/31/2021 at 11:58 AM