Special prayer for Mrs. Elma Maria Garcia who passed away in Brownsville She was the 85 year old mother of our Facebook FRIEND Elma Robinson. Funeral services will be held at Darling Mouser Funeral Home 945 Palm Blvd. Brownsville, Texas 7:00PM service today Burial Services tomorrow morning May she Rest in Peace. Death of A Loved One By: Rev. Greg Rangel It always comes as a major shock when the news is heard that a loved one has passed away. Tears of sadness begin to trickle down our face because they will no longer be with us. We begin to remember to good times and bad times, the happy times and the sad times that we shared with the deceased. During those times many thoughts begin to cross our mind. We at times also begin to ask ourselves, why did this tragedy take place? Why did She have to die? Why did God allow this? In the Gospels there is a story of two sisters who also lost a loved one. And no doubt that during those moments of grief and despair they found themselves with a double heartbreak because not only did they lose a loved one, but the one they thought that would come and heal their brother never showed up. In John 11 we have the story of Lazarus who was very sick and died because of it. As we read in verse 3, Lazarus’ sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was very sick. And no doubt they thought to themselves, ‘it is going to be o.k. As soon as Jesus hears that Lazarus our brother is sick, He will no doubt come quickly and heal him. But the contrary took place. Jesus did not come in time therefore Lazarus died. As a matter of fact, Jesus did the contrary that perhaps other people would do. Verse 6 says that “when he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” Now, why would Jesus do that? He knew that Lazarus was going to die. He also knew that Lazarus had two sisters that were very worried and soon enough would be grieving. Why did Jesus not heal Lazarus right away? Why did He allow Lazarus to die? This is contrary to what others would do. And that is where the problem lies. We begin to believe that God needs to work according to our own will, or according to what we would do. Many times we might not understand why the Lord allows things to take place in our lives. I am sure that Mary and Martha were in a confused state because Jesus had allowed their brother to die. They definitely did not understand why Jesus did not rush to Lazarus’ aid. Perhaps for that reason when Jesus had finally arrived to Bethany where Mary and Martha were, it was only Martha that came out to meet Jesus. Mary stayed behind, perhaps because she had some slight bitterness towards the Lord because He allowed her brother to die (verse 20). But because painful events take place in our lives, as the death of a loved one, it does not mean that God does not love us. It just means that we don’t understand God’s purpose and God’s will in the event. The Bible says that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And this would definitely work out for the good, whether Mary and Martha realized it at the time or not. Jesus knew what He was doing. He had everything under control. The fact that He did not rush to heal Lazarus did not mean that He was uncaring. On the contrary He was full of care and love. Jesus had allowed Lazarus to die so that many might believe in Him after He raised Lazarus from the dead for in verse fifteen Jesus said, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe…” Jesus told Martha from verses twenty five and twenty six, “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” Through raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus proved those words to be true. Those that would die in Him will actually be alive after death. That is the hope of the believer. The hope of heaven. The hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In John 14:1-3 Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Through these words Jesus has once again given us the hope of having eternal life by believing in Him. Here He promised that He would have a place ready for us as soon as we die. In other words, there is no need to fear death because at the moment of death we go to our heavenly home (see also 2 Corinthians 5:1-9). We go to the place that was prepared for us personally by Jesus Christ. And so when a loved one who believed in Jesus dies, we can take comfort in the fact that he has not died. His body is dead and buried, but the real her is in the presence of the Lord Jesus rejoicing because he has finally arrive to his eternal home. A great woman has passed away. And no doubt he will be greatly missed. But we can rejoice in the fact that He is now with Jesus, because it was for this reason that Jesus died for us. Isaiah the prophet wrote, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6). Jesus also said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” So once again let us take comfort in the fact that death is not the end of the believer, but only the beginning, for in the moment we are pronounced dead, we pass from death unto life. Greg Rangel is the Senior Pastor of Borderland Calvary Chapel. You may contact him through e-mail at: gregrangel@msn. His services are held at 11:00am and 6:00 pm on Sundays, and 7:00pm on Wednesdays at 299 E. Heywood St. in San Benito. His teachings are book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. He teaches from Genesis through Revelation.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 16:30:09 +0000
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