DEATH: Public Enemy Numero Uno!

Just before noon on Thursday, Harry B. Farris, one of my high school classmates died. Even though I have not seen him since graduation in ’67 we “befriended” each other recently on Facebook. No one I know knows how he died, but it is really isn’t relevant. What is relevant is that death the number one enemy of life; stands to reason, doesn’t it?

Logic and reason are no longer rational ways of thinking in this age, not only in the world, but especially among the church. It is written in 1 Co 15:26 that the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. It is also written in Heb 2:14 that through his own death Jesus Christ might (would) destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Death is still with us and it will continue to be a part of our lives until it is destroyed; it will always be an enemy.

The reason it is an enemy and always will be is because it takes us away from those who love us and those we love.

Practically every religion in the world, including Christianity, teaches
something contrary to this (I go into this subject in detail in my book.) In a sense of time, death can be viewed as the threshold to a new life with Christ, but not immediately. Until death is destroyed, the grave will be the victor. No believer will see Jesus until the gathering together when the dead in Christ will rise as it is written in 1Thessalonians 4:16.

This time period that elapses could be days, years, centuries and even millenniums. For some it has been millenniums. To the dead, who are not conscious of anything, the rising from the dead will be the next thing they are aware of. To the living, the separation is much to bear. Until death is destroyed it will continue to sting the living as 1Corinthians 15:55 describes.

I was snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez one summer off of an anchored boat. When I came up from a deep dive my head, shoulders and arms became engulfed in a Jellyfish. This was the worst sting I have ever felt and lasted about a month before the scabbed over welts healed. As bad as this sting was it pales in comparison to the death of a loved one, no matter how old they were, or young. Nothing stings like death.

Can you see how logic and reason have been removed from all rational thought processes? Please pray for Harry’s family and loved ones as they learn to deal with this tragic event. God bless and keep you.