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Spiritual Journeys #2
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Death Isn't Fair
| Spiritual Journeys #2 |
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Death Isn't Fair |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States 
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Death Isn't Fair By Larry Chadwick It had to be said. Why do people die? Well, let’s be honest. Some people die because they are stupid. They drive too fast. They come too close too the edge. They jump too far. They climb too high. They claim they love life and want to experience it to the fullest. Yet they gamble loosely with the life they claim to love so much. And then we hear the myth that they died happy, doing what they loved. Or there are those that eat too much. Sit too much. They do nothing, like they were experts at it. Perhaps they just gave up too soon. Maybe they just didn’t get the value of life, their life. They weren’t sure how to get engaged with the world. Then of course, some people die in spite of their passion for living. They are engaged, yet the risks they take are for others and not themselves. But they die. They die because of unexpected diseases. They die because someone lived with hate and murdered them. Or they die because someone got drunk and they were hit head on. A quality person ranked as one of the most serious contributors to society, and they are gone. How can it be that when we are young and innocent in a stage of life where we shouldn’t be worrying for any of our needs, children live in fear of dying? Which even raises the question why do innocent children die? And then there is the grandma or grandpa who lived a life of healthful living and service and died before they reached old age, while another family member may have thrown aside all caution and lived carelessly taking chances and drinking and smoking, often to excess and still, died in their old age. But why is there death at all? Isn’t that really the question? Why? Most all people love experiments. They love to test an idea or a hypothesis. You know the “what if”? What if I do this? What is the outcome if I do that? Is it possible we are in the middle of one great big experiment? If so who would have been stupid enough to start that? And why wouldn’t somebody put an end to it? When did death even start? It turns out there was a war long ago. Oddly it occurred long before there were nations or politicians, the two sure ingredients for war. But it did start on familiar grounds. Somebody bristled at the authority of another. Someone of stature determined they wanted to be in charge. Tired of being given orders and jealous of authority and position he started maneuvering behind the scenes. He was building the first constituency. Persuaded it was about the numbers. How many could he get to support him? Perhaps if he got enough support he would be justified in challenging for the position he coveted. He didn’t consider the possibility that those in charge weren’t willing to give up their position. So full of himself he was determined not to back down. The war began. He and his followers all lost. And consequently they were thrown out. He had been out smarted. So blinded by his pride he didn’t even see the possibility of his demise, nor the consequences of his rebellion. Wandering with no place to really call home he nursed his wounded ego and spent immense time replaying in his mind his errors that led to failure. Never considering that he was wrong, he longed for a way to prove he was right. That was when he found himself in contact with completely innocent people who were not involved in his conflict. And he asked what the rules were that they had to live by. He found they had only one restriction. Just one. A country full of plenty with no want, there was a single tree they were instructed not to eat from, the tree of knowledge of good and evil whose fruit brought death. Pressing his point that the one who defeated him couldn’t possibly have theirs or his best interest at heart, he explained it was a ploy to keep them ignorant. Implying boldly that “he was defeated by a liar”, he spread dissension and rebellion. The only problem was, it was true. To eat of that tree meant certain death. And yet they ate. That is why we die, because Eve and Adam ate the apple. It seemed innocuous enough a choice. But it challenged an eternal verity. God reigns. And so in that moment they chose to risk death. Sound familiar? They gambled. And they lost. Because God is love he made his people with the power of choice. They could choose to obey him or to not obey him. And to minimize the issue he made the challenge so simple that it seemed foolish. He placed them in a garden full of food and restricted only one tree. Surely they could obey with ease under those conditions. But there was that one being with a poisoned mind, bent on overthrowing God. He lied. He skewed the truth. He accused God of withholding knowledge and opportunity. So in the end it wasn’t really about food. It was about God and his reputation and intent. Yet God had been honest. Eat this and die. Paradoxical. We look for complex explanations. The simple truth is we die because someone ate an apple, to prove God was a liar. So are you tired of living in fear of dying? What you want is to live in confidence and not dread of your death or anyone else? It used to be that way. Before they ate the apple. There is a way, you know. It solves the problem of dying as simply as it began. The solution provides courage in the face of our death, courage to accept and understand the death of our family members or friends, even in violent or unfair ends. Let me explain. Death came because life only comes with God. Apart from God there is only death. Because the real issue was whether or not God had been fair and whether or not he really loved us he set out to prove the truth of that original challenge. And while proving that, he had a more important mission. To restore the relationship that was broken at the foot of the tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And in the course of correcting those issues he was bent on removing the dreadful burden of fearing death. He never wished for us to die. He longed that we would choose life. He still does. So to prove his love and dispel the accusations of Lucifer he accepted all the weaknesses that rebellion had introduced into humanity. He met his challenger again. This time he left heaven and met his challenger on his turf. Talk about unfair, he gave up power for weakness, he became a baby. If he won this battle nobody could claim he had an unfair advantage. And as the Son of God, Jesus lived his life on the edge too. He continually challenged the rulers of the day. He offended the establishment over and over, with the truth. The lies that had started in the garden about the apple had only grown. They had been incorporated into a belief system, a theology of lies about God. The Son was here to set the record straight, knowing the truth would cost him his life. But he knew the Father. And because he knew the Father he did not fear dying. Besides his ultimate purpose was to defeat death and restore to us life, a life with the Father. He was given up by Pilate, the coward, to the mob. They led Jesus to the foot of the cross. Another tree. It was to be settled where it began, on a tree. While the first tree brought death, this second tree brought life. Jesus proved that sin isn’t fair. It kills indiscriminately. It killed him. It kills you. It kills me. It kills those we love. And because it’s unfair it doesn’t care when or how it kills us. Dead is dead. Unless, unless you acknowledge. Unless you acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. Unless you acknowledge he came from his Father. Unless you acknowledge that he died to conquer death. Unless you acknowledge that he did it because he loves you. If you do that, you acknowledge that the real liar was Lucifer. And when you have done that you realize why we die. You realize that we die because of sin. Is it unfair? Yes. It always was unfair. But grace isn’t fair. After all, we deserve to die. That’s why death had to be conquered. The grace of God made no effort to fight fair. Instead he fought to save us at any cost, even the cost of his Son’s life. But because the Son refused to disconnect himself from God, he still lives. And if you connect your life to Jesus you will live too. It wasn’t fair my daughter dropped dead of a brain aneurysm. It wasn’t fair she left her mother. It wasn’t fair she was taken from her father. It wasn’t fair she wouldn’t be there for her brother. Lies. They aren’t fair. Sin isn’t fair. But God chose to extend his grace. And grace isn’t fair either. Rebellion is worthy of death. But grace provides us the chance we don’t deserve. The chance to choose Jesus. Accept grace and live. Reject grace and die. That’s why we die. November 30, 2008 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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| © Copyright 2009 Larry Chadwick - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Bob Gotti Senior Member
since 2003-06-07
Posts 895United States |
That Is Very Good Larry, Very thought provoking at the start, to end with a very clear explanation of the origin of death along with the only sure solution to life (Eternally). Hopefully many will take the time to read and think a little deeper, as I believe many today do not have a clear understanding on the Finality of Death. May God Bless You and Your Family. In Christ’s Love, Bob Gotti |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Thank you, dear Larry, for sharing your insights with us. We shall never get "used" to physical death, because we miss our loved ones' touch, but by walking with Jesus we definitely know we are not alone in our sorrow, in His heart we find peace. Love, Margherita |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Bob, God richly blesses us beyond measure. We take much pleasure knowing He is in charge. And I gave much consideration before posting here. But I do hope it is understood. Thank you.  Dear Margherita, So true and thank you for your kind words.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
How kind and generous of you Larry to take the time to write this story again. Thank you for an excellent posting. Love, Joyce |
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