Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Just before reading John’s obituary I was reading a book of sermons by Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher in England of the 1800’s and was known as “The Prince of Preachers”. He preached more than 3,600 sermons by the time he died and wrote almost 50 volumes. The book I was reading was “O Death, Where is Your Sting?”, a series of Spurgeon’s sermons on dying in Christ and our heavenly hope. The book ends with this prayer for those grieving a believer’s death. When I read it, I thought of you. My heart is with you in your grief, Barb. Love, Becky Heavenly Father, My heart grieves the loss of someone dearly loved. I’m in great pain, but I cannot forget to thank you for bringing this person into my life in the first place. The pain I feel is proportional to the joy this person brought to my life. Each day with them was a gift from your sovereign and gracious hand. Thank you. I grieve the way sin brings death to the beautiful world You created. I grieve that it can rip away our loved ones and wreak havoc on our world. Death is the result of sin, but because of the cross it is a conquered enemy for us who believe. But the pain is still real. Thank you that my loved one knew Jesus and repented of their sin. And thank you that I have hope to see them again one day, where we will be free from sin and pain and where you will wipe away every tear from our eyes. God, please minister to us through Your Word and Your Holy Spirit in the pain we’re experiencing. I know life will never be the same. Please increase my hope and joy in You. I know my time on earth here is limited too, so rid me of my love for this world and the things in it, and set my heart on what is eternal. Increase my longing for the pleasures and perfection of heaven where we will continually experience Your holy presence for the rest of our days. And increase the burden on my heart to share Jesus with others in this broken world. You are my greatest treasure and I thank You that You can use our deepest pain to draw us near to You. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.
