It seems lately that the world is in a state of emergency. The Earth suddenly seems more temporal and fragile than ever before.
The truth is, this Earth has always been and will always be temporal. Our fear won’t and can’t change that, and only our faith in our Father’s promises will lead us to Him. But you can’t tell that to the newscasters and newspaper editors. Fear of death is splashed all over the headlines, and we’re all subject to questioning the sweet hereafter. Will it be so “sweet?”
When 911 happened, I had many people express fear of what was to come. Like today, there was a heightened insecurity throughout the world, and even the most ardent believer could get swept up in the fear-mongering. Like today, I had people ask me then why I seemed so calm about the news. How could I stay so focused on my own life and business when the world could come crumbling down any minute. I could honestly tell them then, as I can say now, I’m okay with that because I’m excited to finally meet Jesus face-to-face.
Now I can’t say that my sense of calm never falters. It’s easy to get involved in this temporal existence and forget about the house Jesus has prepared for me. It’s easy to worry about death and what it will mean for me, my wife, and kids. Like so many before me, it’s easy to fear the one thing that regardless of who we are, how much money we have, or how many doctors we employ will most certainly happen to all of us. In those times, I remember the 23rd Psalm and that Jesus will lead me out of the valley of death. I won’t have to do it alone, and that is a comforting thought.
I know that Jesus has removed the sting of death and, ultimately, regardless of what is going on in the world, I can feel as Paul did when he said in PHILIPPIANS 1:21-23, “For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.”
