Question: Have u ever thought about how people will feel when u leave them? I have. What do I think about it? I’ve wondered and thought… would they feel sad or even cry? would they miss me?
This morning I read about a king with an epitaph like this:
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (2 Chron. 21:20)
Dying to no one’s regret! Perhaps even good riddance. How pathetic and sad. King Jehoram was son of King Jehoshapat who was a good king. But unlike his father, Jehoram was bad. He killed all his brothers and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. In judgement, God sent Elijah the prophet, to tell him that he would die of disease of the bowels – with his intestines coming out of him. Horrible.
Jehoram died at 40, young, and a painful death to no one’s regret. What a pity!
I’m 61. I don’t know when my last day on earth would be. No one does. One thing I know: God put me on earth for a purpose – his purpose is for me to live well so people will know of the God of grace when they see the grace of God in each moment of each day that I live. Sometimes I did well, sometimes I failed. But God is always gracious. He enables when He calls.
Even as I read of King Jehoram from the Old Testament, I read of Jesus’ words from John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
These are words of great comfort as we live in our temporary world. Our final destination is to be with Jesus in eternity – in the place where He prepares for us. Jesus told these things to his disciples just before He went the way of the cross – to assure them that they would not be left alone. Jesus also said:
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
So dear friend, let us live each day with hope and courage – that when we leave this world, we are going to be with Jesus and while we are in this world, the Holy Spirit is with us to teach us all things and remind us of the words of Jesus. Jesus leaves us with peace, peace not as the world gives – but peace that is beyond understanding.
Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
