Death & Sorrow

We all have confronted the death of a loved one, friend, or acquaintance at some point in our lives. In many cases it has brought about joyful memories. In others it has brought about feelings of remorse. Regardless of what memories it may have stirred in you, one thing remains the same -- the emptiness that no words can describe nor comfort. All one can do is mourn the loss; then, life gradually pulls you back into its grasp and you move forward again.

I came across a passage in Ezekiel the other day that somewhat took me by surprise when I first read it. Ezekiel was told by the Lord that his wife would soon die and that he was not to undergo the customary rituals of mourning. He was to be an example to the people of Israel, for soon they too would lose something very precious (their temple and the city of Jerusalem) and not be able to mourn their own loss.

My first thoughts upon reading this was, "How could God take away something so precious as Ezekiel's wife to make an example, especially given Ezekiel's faithfulness?" Then as I pondered upon it some more, I realized my thoughts were all wrong. As Christians, our lives belong to God. Ezekiel knew this. He also knew that he would one day see his wife again in the presence of the Lord. Though the pain and sorrow had to be great for Ezekiel, he was able to carry on because he found strength in the Lord. With Ezekiel, God was first and foremost in his heart and mind -- above all else, including his wife. And as such, he was able to stand up, even in the face of death, and continue serving the Lord.

If you think about it long enough, you'll soon realize that there is no such thing as death for Christians -- only reward. But even knowing this, would you be able to serve the Lord as strongly as Ezekiel given the same circumstances?

The answer lies in your own relationship with Jesus Christ. How close is your relationship to Him? Does He have first place in your heart and mind? If not, what's holding you back from serving the Lord? I challenge you to let God use you and your circumstances for His glory, even as He used the death of Ezekiel's wife for a greater purpose. After all, as Christians our lives really belong to Him.