c deborah kunzie

As I sit at my writing desk this morning trying to compose the words of this subject, death and dying, a subject that many people do not like to talk or even think about, a news flash comes across on the TV behind me of the devastating tragedy that has hit Japan. I heard the announcer mention the people living near the water had less than fifteen minutes notice to evacuate before the tsunami would hit.

Imagine if one could, that we were given only fifteen minutes before everything and possibly our life would be over. Swept away never to be found again. What thoughts would go through your mind? Would you be thinking of what to grab from your home to try and save, would you try and out run death?

Just think, that everything had been going along just fine in life and in a moment, life could be over.

Events such as these are of course heartfelt to us. The tragic loss of life. Entire cities being washed away and smashed with the power of water. To me, it is a reminder that life is short. And that God is in control. Any of us at any moment could be removed from where we stand. This is why it is ever so important that we live our lives in such away that others want what we have in the way of God’s Grace. I am a firm believer in the after life and I want mine to be perfect. Living for Christ while here on earth assures that kind of heavenly life. Our concerns need to be with our loved ones and our friends. It is our duty as people of Faith to make sure they are aware of how quickly life is gone and that the life we live should be the best we can make it.

The Bible is clear to say, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Ths. 4:16-18)
(Matthew 24:36-40) “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

With these verses it is clear that our eyes should be on the Coming of Christ. There is nothing we can do to prevent tragic events from happening and the only thing after words is to help those in need. More importantly we are to live our lives in a way that pleases God and be prepared at any moment to meet Him at the blink of an eye.

My prayers are with the people in Japan.