Faith even in tragedy

Yesterday’s post was written in shock and with a sorrowful heart. Yes, the Christians who die seemingly before their time and at the hands of twisted minds go to be with Jesus, but their deaths leave us with a sense of ‘this should not happen.’  

I am sad. The sorrow of the people in Sutherland Springs cannot be imagined. This mass shooting took more than half of their church, children, precious family and friends. I weep with them, for them.

Yet they are God’s people. The news reports how the difference faith makes in the lives of survivors as studied by researchers and told during the American Psychological Association convention last year. They found that “faith communities that rally together in the wake of a mass shooting make a measurable difference in the lives of survivors” and faith results in fewer symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This research is under further review, yet already points to how churches can help, whether the tragedy happens within their sanctuaries or not.

Death affects us yet there is hope in our tears. Soon I became a Christian, the husband of my wonderful mentor died. I expected uncontrollable grief from this loving widow. However, when people tried to comfort her, they found that she comforted them because of her faith in his eternal destiny. She said that any grief she felt was sorrow for herself not him, and she knew he was with Jesus. How could she feel sorrow for him!

Life is precious, yet those who know Jesus can affirm Paul’s hope. He said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Other verses declare what all genuine Christians believe. Our assurance is in Christ.

“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:9–13)

Faith in Jesus is our comfort because faith gives us assurance in the promises of God. We are sad, but we also have the hope of eternal life:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

Someday I will see those people from Texas and give them a hug, just as I will see all those who died in faith because we believe what Jesus said and know that He tells the truth:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:24–25)

^^^^^^^

Dear and precious Lord Jesus, it is this promise that gives great hope to Your people. Whether we live or die, we know You hold us in Your hands and when the end comes, no matter when or how it comes, You will take me and all who believe in You to be with You forever.