Overcoming Death is the ultimate way we overcome Darkness.

Now that I’m over 70, Death is a recurring reality. My parents and grandparents are gone. Each year I hear that more friends and classmates are gone.

I’m beginning to understand why my Grandpa Harner would visit cemeteries, saying, “I know more people under the ground than above the ground!”.

I haven’t reached that point yet. It’s still a few more years before I reach the median life expectancy for people born the year that I was born.

Nevertheless, I’ve noticed the shift in my expectations of death. Before I turned 40, I felt that the death of a friend or classmate was the result of their very bad luck. A motorcycle accident. Breast cancer. A brain tumor.

But now I feel more and more that friends and classmates remain alive because they’re very lucky. They’re survivors of cancer and heart attacks.

Furthermore, by age 70 we must confront the growing realization that almost all of us will be gone thirty years from now. Thirty years seems like a long, long time when you’re growing up. Now, it feels like a very, very short time, indeed.

As we used to sing while driving to Disney World:

“There’s more to do than we ever can do,

More to see than we ever can see.”

(Lyrics from The Lion King)

I fight such demoralizing feelings each morning in my Meditations. (See the blogs listed below in the READ MORE section.)

First, I say, “This is the Day that the LORD hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24).

Next, I say, “The LORD himself goes before me and is with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8; as discussed in my blog “Meditations: Jesus Is Our Secret Agent”).

These Meditations are a good way to prepare for each day.

I remind myself that, whatever happens during that day, the LORD has made it, so I will rejoice and be glad about it.

I remind myself that, whatever happens during that day, the LORD will go before me and be with me, he will never leave me nor forsake me. So I should not be afraid or discouraged.

Now that I am over 70, and suffer from the illness and death of so many friends and family, I realize how good these Meditations are for facing illness and death.

Each morning, I grow my faith that, whatever happens during the days after my death, the LORD will make them, so I will rejoice and be glad in them, even though I don’t know exactly what will happen during the days after I die.

Each morning, I grow my faith that, whatever happens during the days after my death, the LORD will go before me and be with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I will not be afraid. I will not be discouraged.

I fight the Darkness of Illness and Death, by meditating upon my hope that, even after my death, my days will be made by the LORD. I will rejoice and be glad in them.

I fight the Darkness of Illness and Death, by meditating upon my hope that, even after my death, the LORD will go before me and be with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me.

Therefore, I should not be afraid. Because Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for me. (John 14:1-3).

Therefore, I should not be discouraged. Because the LORD will establish the works of my hands. (Psalm 90:17).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

How many of your friends and family have died? How?

Do you feel as if you know more people under the ground than above the ground? Why?

During the days after your death, will you rejoice and be glad? Or be afraid and discouraged? Why?

READ MORE

For my thoughts about meditating, please read my blogs “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”; “My Cats Greet Me Eagerly for the Sunrise”; “Meditations: This is the Day That the LORD Hath Made”; “Meditations: This Is the Day!”; “Meditations: The LORD Will Go Ahead of Me”; “Meditations: The LORD Is My Secret Agent”; “A Dark, Rainy Dawn”; “”; “Meditations: Be Still”; “Meditations: The LORD Is My Shepherd”; “Meditations: The LORD Is My Shepherd and Meditations: A Good Parent Is a Good Shepherd” (podcast); “Meditations: Pleasing Words and Thoughts”; “Meditations: Listening”; “I’m Speaking, LORD! Shut Up!”; Going Further Onto the Patio”; “Amazing Grace: Birdsongs”; “Pandemic Wisdom: Leaves and Birds”; “A Foggy Sunrise”; “Mountains and Hills Breaking into Song”; and “God Cares for Each Bird that I See Each Morning”.

For reasons why I believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, please read my book Hoping in the LORD, at pages 294-333.