In Whose Hands Are You?

I CONDUCTED a funeral service recently. After each funeral, I will feel rather exhausted - a mixed bag of triumph, knowing that the person had passed on to eternal life in heaven; and a sense of tragedy, knowing that the family who had lost the person will have to live with a sense of emptiness in the person's absence.

So this morning, I returned to my bookshelf and pored over several books relating to the morbid topic - Death.

This forces a question: How do the Bible view death, particularly for the Christian? What does a spiritual, eternal perspective look like?

In Psalm 116:15, it is written, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly saints."

Why? What is it about death for the Christian that constitutes it precious to God, and therefore, to the believer?

The Bible uses three graphic, compelling pictures or metaphors for the death of a believer.

1. Going to Sleep (1 Thess 4:13-17);
2. Going on a journey (2 Tim 4:6)
3. Going home (John 14:1-3).

Regardless of the three metaphors, there is one compelling thought, which is encapsulated in a poem (unknown author) below - think about it.


In Whose Hands Are You?

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is worth about $19
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy.
A slingshot in David’s hands is a mighty weapon.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands it’s in.


As you now see, it depends on whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes , your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God’s hands, because, you see, it depends on whose hands it’s in.

Faithful

"Many a man will declare his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6)

I saw a photo of the excavations of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that was buried, almost frozen in time, under tons of volcanic ash. The eruption was so sudden, so violent, that many people were doing the basic day to day stuff of life when they were instantly smothered. There was no warning. Death was virtuallyinstantaneous.

One lone Roman soldier stood vigil facing the volcano. He saw the eruption and the deadly ash cloud headed for the city and could have tried to run. He chose to stand. Roman soldiers DID NOT leave their posts unless relieved. They stood faithful to the task before them. They feared their commanding officers more than their enemies; more than death.

This lone soldier stood his ground and was buried alive facing the volcano. His assignment was to guard the city. He stands silent vigil over that doomed city today. He was faithful to the task. God calls us to be faithful witnesses to the world and each other of His goodness. Your testimony of Christ has little power if you are not loving your spouse, honoring your parents, raising godly children, walking out the life of Christ within you in this fallen world.

Jesus promised that when we appear before Him, for those who walked close in obedience to him, will hear these words - "Well done, you good and FAITHFUL servant. Enter into the joy of the L ord." We cannot enter in the Lord's joy in this life or the next unless we are faithful to His call on our lives. Joy is an issue of the heart. You have to be close, intimate with someone to hear their heartbeat. The One we desire calls himself "Faithful and True."

I saw on a sports broadcast once a long distance runner who won a grueling race. His trainer was waiting for him at the finish line. This victorious athlete ran past the trophy right into his coach's arms. The token reward could wait. I suspect he wanted to hear his coaches' praise.

I want to finish my life like that - running right into my Saviors' waiting arms. His words, "Well done, you good and faithful servant" are what I am running to finally hear. His rewards can wait. I want his smile. "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev. 2: 10.
Will you stand firm to the call of God? Do you fear the Lord more than the opinions of men? Will you be found faithful?

- David Langerfield

I Know Where I'm Going

IN January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it." Einstein nodded appreciatively.

The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. Moving to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, "Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, no problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one."

Einstein looked at him and said, "Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am ... I also know where I'm going."

My friends, do you know where you are going?

"For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12