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Mumford and Sons is one of my favorite bands. Tonight, I was listening to”After the Storm” for the umpteenth time and for the first time, I really listened.I was struck by these lyrics in particular:
And I won’t die alone and be left there
Well, I guess I’ll just go home, oh God knows where
Because death is just so full and man so small
Well, I’m scared of what’s behind and what’s before
Life is so full of storms and it is lived under the shadow of The Storm we most dread. Death. Its ugly shadow hangs over our fragile lives from the day we are born.
The fear of death is the fear of the unknown. The fear of death is the acknowledgement of our frailty.
You mayask, “What is this Jesus thing all about? What does He offer me that I don’t already have? What can he give me that I need?”
It could take several books to scratch the surface of the answer to that question. I want to offer a three-fold answer: Faith, Hope, and Love.
Faith is believing in a design, and in the Designer. Faith is believing in life and the Giver of life. Faith is not the opposite of reason. Faith is the reason reason matters. Faith is reasonable; faith is greater than reason; and each of us ultimately finds some place to placeour faith.
There is no safe haven for faith but Jesus Christ.
Hope. What can I say about hope? Tomorrow will mark the twenty-thirdFather’s Day since my Dad passed. I have not seen his face or heard his voice in 23 years. I still know his voice as well as I ever did and can see his face as clearly as ever. But to me, for now, he is gone.
He is gone. He is not dead. The day he died was a graduation to a higher plane, a nobler life, a fuller existence. I will see him again.
Love. What is life without it? And where has love been more perfectly demonstrated than in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Where did we ever see love more perfectly demonstrated than in His words, His deeds, His life.
Death loses its horrid grip on the soul because of Jesus Christ and His perfect love for us.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.1 John 4:18
This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.1 John 4:10
Man is small, yes. But death is not so full.
O death, whereisthy sting? O grave, whereisthy victory?1 Corinthians 15:55
After the storm, there is peace for those who know the Prince of Peace.
And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears
And love will not break your heart but dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see what you find there
With grace in your heart and flowers was in your hair
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.John 14:27
Happy Father’s Day!
Peace to you and yours.
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