Sometimes life just doesn't seem fair. When things are going our way, we never have a complaint, but let something go wrong, then we pull out a list of why things are not fair.
Case in point: Dementia. It is such a sad, debilitating, and destructive disease that is nothing more than a term used to describe many symptoms that affect everything from memory, speaking, reasoning, and general functions of the body. It comes upon a person, quiet like a lamb, and wreaks havoc like a lion.
My dear Aunt, who was 88 years old, was diagnosed several years ago with dementia, and she battled daily with its symptoms. Some days were fine, but others were very difficult. She was a famous Jazz singer in her younger years and lived a pretty glamorous life from most people's perspective.
She was loving, compassionate, caring, and giving, and as someone who loved her very much, it was difficult to watch as she lost the ability to talk, sing, remember names, write, and eventually even forget how to eat.
At times it was hard to understand how this could happen to her, especially since she was a believer in Christ and a wonderful Christian woman. Aren't we supposed to be blessed when we live for God? Why did this have to happen to her? Will the same thing happen to me?
Those questions rolled through my mind as I sat and held her hand as she took her last breath Sunday afternoon. But as I sat there, among the questions in my mind, came the verse that for some is a complete paradox. Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."
How could death be so sad, and still be precious? How can a loving and caring God allow something so heartbreaking to happen to someone who loves Him so much? We have to remember that even before we were created, God had a plan and a purpose for our life, and according to his word, he has set an "appointed time" for us to die, (Hebrews 9:27) and after that, the judgment.
From before our very first breath, God had already decided the time for our very last. Because it is heartbreaking to us, people often fail to see that even though God plans our death, He is not void of compassion and care when that time comes. Our life certainly matters to God, but our death does as well. It is precious to Him because "Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." (Psalm 68:20)
It means so much to Him because when that time comes, we pass from death to life. No more will there be a fear of death. No more will there be an end. No more will there be sorrow, pain, and sickness. It is precious to Him because we have made it to the point where LIFE truly begins. Eternal Life!
Death is precious to Him because it means that there is no longer a separation between us and God. We are finally Home!
In comparison to whatever means we depart this world, eternal life in Heaven is worth it. "Life is but a vapor," but death is even shorter. God has never asked that we don't mourn the absence of those we love, but just not to forget that we do have a hope that it won't be long until there is no more absence, only joy. Precious is the death that leads the saint to life...
