The Last Enemy November 26, 2012
Standing by the graveside last Tuesday morning,watching Barb Williams’ casket descend into the ground, my heart was raginginside. I hate Death. He’s a robber and a thug. He pushes us around, breaks ourhearts, and destroys so much of what we love. Death offends me at a level Ican’t even articulate.
Every time I visit a graveyard, I want to scream atDeath, wherever he might be: “This is so wrong! Our lives matter! You can’tjust walk in here and do this to us.” Headstones and memories, that’s whatDeath reduces us to. And he doesn’t even care. It’s wrong. So wrong.
But God cares. “Precious in the sight of the LORD isthe death of his saints,” we read in Psalm 116:15. Tears running down Jesus’ faceat Lazarus’s tomb is the picture that comes to my mind. I’m so grateful forthat verse and that story. It tells me my reaction isn’t unique to me. Godfeels it, too.
I’m also grateful to know that Death’s day is drawingto an end. Every funeral takes him one step closer to his own banishment. Everygraveside service is another toll of the bell. Someday soon, Jesus will raidDeath’s dark party, touch all His dust-bunny saints, and lead them in a victoryparade like the world has never seen. I can’t wait. Guess who gets pushedaround this time? Not us. And certainly not Jesus! “The last enemy to bedestroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:26).
The Apostle John tells us how it will go: “I heard aloud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is withman. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself willbe with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor painanymore, for the former things have passed away.’” (Rev 21:4)
How long, O Lord? Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.