It was a weekend like none other. Just a few evenings ago they had been sitting
around the table with Jesus laughing, reclining and making more memories. Jesus had said some things they couldn’t
fully understand but they had become accustomed to the mysterious manner in
which He spoke. And then their world
went horribly wrong and betrayal and abandonment were their companions. Jesus had predicted this but their pride
wouldn’t allow them to accept it, after all they adored Him. Why would they ever distance themselves from
Him? Who could have foreseen that they
would replace their devotion with desertion?
I can only imagine the guilt that hung in the air after all of the chaos
was over. Their mentor and friend
suffered a horrible death, and not only had they failed to intervene but turned
and walked off. ‘Why hadn’t they rushed
the soldiers to save Him? Why did they
become so fearful and take off? How
could they possibly have turned the other way?
If only…But when Christ
appeared in their dim little room, He came not with chastisement but with
comfort.
One of the most normal emotions I hear in grief counseling
is the hypnotizing chants of guilt. I should have…If only…Why did I…Why didn’t
I? These questions build thoughts
that produce a misconception that we have the ability to ‘out power’ God. The Bible states ‘The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,
and as I have purposed, so it will stand…For the LORD Almighty has purposed,
and who can thwart him? His hand is
stretched out, and who can turn it back?” Isaiah 14:24, 27. It is tempting to take on the responsibility
of the outcome of tragedy, but we have no more power in preventing God’s plan
than the disciples had during that weekend.
God had a plan for mankind which involved the death of Christ. He had a plan for my loved ones that involved
stretching His Father arms out to them and bidding them home. He looked upon their lives and was ready to
give them everything. His plan included
whisking them out of this old world and giving them life…real life…joyful life …perfect
life.
I know for certain that if I were to ask my loved ones if
they would like to return to our world their answers would be no. Why would they give up the perfect for the
broken, the joyful for the suffering?
Our Father has purposed and determined for each of His children to
return to Him one by one. In this truth
I have hope that everything and every passing is the perfect plan of God to
give imperfect people eternal life.
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