A good, praying friend lost his wife last week. The funeral was yesterday. I wish I could have been there. Thank God for the wonderful words of comfort and precious promises about the future that abound in Scripture. I know this elderly friend will be meditating on many of these passages as he sorrows the loss of his life's companion. He does not sorrow like those who have no hope.
Today reading in Isaiah I came across one of those comforting, hopeful passages. I rejoice that these passages are not given to us only for funerals; only for the time when a loved one has passed away. They are passages that ring down through the centuries with great hope for every day.
We are surrounded by death and tears. In a world of close to 7 billion people, we know that many thousands of people die every hour and thousands more are left behind, filled with grief. We know this is not what God had planned for the children of Adam and Eve. And it is not what God has planned in the future.
Familiar New Testament passages like I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4 and Revelation 21, 22 are often read at funerals and provide great hope.
This passage in Isaiah may not be as familiar to you. So enjoy these ancient words written seven or eight centuries before John wrote Revelation 21 which both echoes and expands on Isaiah. Just to make it fresh for you, I quote from the Message paraphrase.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so!
Isaiah 25:7, 8
Today reading in Isaiah I came across one of those comforting, hopeful passages. I rejoice that these passages are not given to us only for funerals; only for the time when a loved one has passed away. They are passages that ring down through the centuries with great hope for every day.
We are surrounded by death and tears. In a world of close to 7 billion people, we know that many thousands of people die every hour and thousands more are left behind, filled with grief. We know this is not what God had planned for the children of Adam and Eve. And it is not what God has planned in the future.
Familiar New Testament passages like I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4 and Revelation 21, 22 are often read at funerals and provide great hope.
This passage in Isaiah may not be as familiar to you. So enjoy these ancient words written seven or eight centuries before John wrote Revelation 21 which both echoes and expands on Isaiah. Just to make it fresh for you, I quote from the Message paraphrase.
And here on this mountain, God will banish
the pall of doom hanging over all peoples,
The shadow of doom darkening all nations.
Yes, he'll banish death forever.
And God will wipe the tears from every face.
He'll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are.
Yes! God says so!
Isaiah 25:7, 8
No comments:
Post a Comment