Respect The Dead

I grew up with a healthy respect for the dead. I’m pretty sure my parents passed it on to me. While I was a student pastor, I participated in a lot of memorial services for people who died. I think that deep down there is a fear of death inside of me. My faith journey has calmed that down a lot over the years. I also think one of the reasons I see death as an enemy is because I don’t know when it will come to me. I’m learning to not live in fear but to live in faith that the One Who defeated death is the God I live for and He will keep me close even in death.

I went whitewater rafting several years ago – like maybe 15 years ago and I fell out of the boat in some really bad rapids and after fighting the rapids for what seemed like forever (it was probably 10 minutes), I was pulled into the raft, exhausted and give out. I remember at one point thinking I was going to have to give up as the rapids kept pulling me under. I felt like I could possibly die.

A healthy respect for death and even the dead is very much a part of life. I have placed my trust in the Creator of Life and He promises life eternal after death on earth. I’m sticking with Him and He will keep cultivating in me respect for death while living my life here on earth to the max!

Saul and three of his sons were in a really bad battle at Mt. Gilboah. His three sons were killed and he knew that He would be tortured and killed as the king, so he decided to fall on his sword and take his own life. The Philistines found his body and the bodies of his sons and after beheading Saul’s body they took their bodies to put on display at Beth Shan. Check this out…

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:11-13 NIV)

I wondered who these men of Jabesh Gilead were and King Saul as one of his first acts had rescued them after being anointed king. They wanted to show honor and respect to their king even in death. I’m sure there was great risk involved in sneaking in to retrieve the body of Saul and his sons for proper burial. This valiant act of honor was impressive to me.

When I think of dying one day, it is a very sobering thought that often ushers in a bit of fear. I always have a conversation with the Giver and Sustainer of Life and He brings peace to my soul. Every human being on the planet is going to die at some point – I’m no different than that. I do plan to be walking with the Lord all the rest of my days here on earth and I do look forward to spending eternity with Him. Death is not optional for me or any one, so I might as well trust in the One Who gave me life when it’s time for my life to end.

Pressing On!

Dwayne