Young Adults' Group

A Meditation On Life And Death

by Pastor Mark
June 24, 2021

Another series of deaths

This week, we have seen another two deaths in Bethany. There was the passing of the late Mr Lim Seng Tiong, Michelle Lim’s father. Mr Lim was baptised in Bethany back in 2015. Another who passed was the late Mr Foo Ken Hoe, Min Li and Francis’s father. Wonderfully, Pastor Charles baptised him on Sunday. We thank God for the glorious salvation that He has given to our older folks and the hope of heaven that we have in Christ.

Increasingly, we recognise that the reality of death is something that we have to consider and grapple with again and again. In Bethany, we have seen six deaths already this year. Perhaps more deaths would be expected in the second half of the year. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of my meditations during this time.

Thoughts about life and death

1. Time and chance

One of the sources of my meditation on life and death has been Pastor’s devotions on Ecclesiastes. We tend to think we have a good handle on life and death. We expect that the normal and common things of life will happen to all of us. There is nothing wrong with having a common expectation of life. But the reality is that unexpected things do happen.

King Solomon wrote with great insight that the swift does not always win the race nor does the strongest always win the battle (Eccl 9:11). The reality is that time and chance happen to all of us. They are out of our control. Things such as disease (pandemic), war, adversity and unforeseen circumstances can happen to all. The challenge is to learn to expect the unexpected. Let us have the wisdom to understand that time and chance will happen to all.

2. One event that happens to all

Death is something that comes all too soon, whether we are young or old. To loved ones who have suffered bereavement, it is always too soon. We do not expect death as we should. Yet, we understand that death is one event that happens to all, no matter who we are (Eccl 9:2,3).

Last month, a second cousin of mine (paternal side) who is my age passed away. She was the first of my generation in my family to return to the Lord. Her death was another reality check for me as I see how life at my age can come to an end all too soon. Let us understand that death will happen to all of us no matter who we are. It could come at any time. Let us be challenged to use our life and time well while we still can.

3. God of the living

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matt 22:32)

A wonderful thought that has been on my mind is that we have a God who is the God of the living. The Lord Jesus gave this powerful perspective of the dead to the Sadducees. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. He referred to the words that God spoke to Moses, where He declared that He was the God of his forefathers (Ex 3:6,15). It indicates that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are all alive and well. They may be physically dead but are all spiritually living. The Lord is the God of the living. We should see our departed loved ones as living. I draw much comfort and joy in seeing my dad as part of the living. Let us rejoice in this glorious hope that we have in the resurrection of Christ.

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