The Pilgrim Path---Isaiah 25: 8, 9 (3—8—23)

He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.”

“…SWALLOW UP DEATH FOREVER”

Back around 2003, I received a rather shocking phone call---one of my best friends from college had been killed in a traffic accident. He was hit by a tractor-trailer truck, and pushed for hundreds of feet, crossed a median into oncoming traffic. He died at impact with other vehicles. His daughter who was riding with him, died about a day later of injuries from the same perilous crash. His wife had gone “out” to meet Matt (my friend) while he was doing some consulting work for a large corporation. She had taken the son and daughter. They were driving “back home” in separate cars. She had the son in her car---maybe 30 minutes ahead. It was very rainy, stormy weather on Interstate 20---in North Alabama…

We human beings ask many questions of the LORD in such circumstances. I tend to “go back” to the comments of a 50 plus year Women’s Sunday School Teacher, in my first pastorate---Boyd Hooker. She had walked with Jesus Christ through many “highs and lows”---many difficult lows. She often said to me, “I’ve stopped asking WHY? I just ask the LORD Jesus to help me rest in HIM more.” My---my…. It’s hard to argue with that advice. The LORD Jesus has settled much---and HE will sort the rest out when HE comes. HE has paid for our sins. They will never burden us for all eternity. My friend and his daughter were summoned into the presence of Christ. The rest of us are asked to live as if ---what HE says is true (it’s all true). Sooner than we imagine, “He will swallow up death forever.”

From Richard Baxter: Life that lacks in length may be made up in breadth, weight, and sweetness. Christ went this way and sanctified the grave. You are not entering an untrodden path.

Grace & Peace in Jesus, The Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason