When Is A Good Time?

The young man moved slightly in response to the pain. The effort brought forth a low moan, it hurt so much. His father moved a little closer, wishing there were something he could do. But there wasn’t. His son was dying. And it all seemed so unfair. In the prime of life, losing his life like this as the few short hours passed.

The father was alone in his thoughts. He remembered when the son
was but a lad – such a good son, always obedient. Never running with the other boys of the neighborhood, he could always be counted on to be there when he was called. And so good-natured – always smiling. As he had entered his teen years, perhaps not a few mothers in town had eyed him with their daughters in mind. He had that quality about him. But now that didn’t matter. He was so near death. What medicine was available had been offered, but really, it wouldn’t have done any good. In fact, in this case, there was the possibility of tragic side-effects. So it had been turned down. The sorrow fell heavily on the father.

Then the chest finally rose for its last gasp, not really much more than a twitch. Suddenly the son was gone, and the father was left alone, with no one to comfort him. I mean, who could the Supreme Ruler of the universe turn to in His grief?

Many of us have lost loved ones – perhaps an aged grandparent, or maybe a father. Was it a sibling, dying an early death? Have you lost a child, perhaps even an infant? It all seems so unfair; but God understands unfair. God understands being alone in a loss. God understands grief and pain.

In our realm, we hear terms like dying prematurely, an early death, an unfortunate death, or an untimely death. I ask you, what is a mature death? Or a fortunate death? Or a timely death? Is there a good time to die?

I would suggest that, when we take in the bigger picture, there is no “good” time to die. Yes, ironically, death is part of life. It sounds strange, though, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. You see, it was never intended to be so. Death is an intruder, an interloper, a virus snuck in by sin, used by Satan to separate us from God. Left as it is, in fact, it will be the final separation caused by sin. But it need not be feared or loathed.

I encourage you, those who’ve lost loved ones, not to focus your eyes on the grave where you’ve laid your precious ones. Instead, look up. Up, past that other grave. Up, even higher. Look into heaven. See that the Son who suffered so greatly, who died such a terrible death, has been reunited with the Father who felt such anguish at His Son’s death. A resurrection has taken place. God’s done it before, and He’s promised to do it again, but on a much larger scale. Some golden daybreak....

You can choose to be reunited, not only with the earthly parent you’ve laid to rest, but also with your Heavenly Father. Reunited, not only with that brother or sister of flesh and blood, but with our heavenly Older Brother. Reunited, not only with that child, that infant who died so young, but with the Son of God. He has promised; He can be trusted. Every one of us can participate. Only believe…only believe.

Dr. G