Till We Are Home

We just received news of the sudden death of one of our family members. No details are known at this time, so we wait and pray.

His death comes as a shock like death tends to come. We sit here stunned…unsure what to do…unsure what to think…unsure what to say to each other. 

I’m sad for his immediate family. I’m sad for his extended family and friends. I’m sad for their days and weeks and months and years to come.

Through this disbelief, I sit here struck by two truths: 

One, “(w)hat is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes,” (Js 4:14). Our days are short. Our life is a mist, or how the KJV puts it…a vapour. How precious few days we truly have on this earth. Therefore, we should not waste a bit of it.

And, two, the eternal and immovable doctrine of God’s providence. Two verses bring to light the grandeur and nearness of His involvement throughout His creation, especially our lives:

Isaiah 46:8-10, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

And, Matthew 10:29-31, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

God’s sovereignty reigns majestically over the great and extraordinary metanarratives of the world. And, God’s sovereignty reigns majestically over the minute details of our being and our days. 

In the midst of tragedy like this, when you find yourself face-to-face with your worst fear as a parent, when the realities of this vapour of a life strike, only the rock-solid, immovable, awesome, and powerful doctrine of God’s absolute sovereignty can bring you peace and comfort.

We don’t serve a God who is capricious with life.

We don’t serve a God who is impotent to save.

We don’t serve a God so dumb that He doesn’t know all things.

We don’t serve a God who is reckless to not know how best to conduct His creation. 

We serve a God who is sovereign over all things. A God who is near. A God who is eternal and cares for the mists of our lives. Who calls people to Himself. Who will comfort and provide the brightest light in our darkest of days. 

Maranatha. May we find shelter in Him when the mountains crumble into the sea…

Till we are home…