The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
(Friends: we rarely send out a message on Sunday. But this is that day when we especially remember and rejoice in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and since this one is ready to go, I thought I'd send it along. Thanks, Glen)
"None Die Alone"
Frances and I have walked thousands of miles during our years together, in countless places of varying pathways, terrain, altitude, vista, towns, and cities. We have seen more beauty and wonder than we could ever begin to describe, and some of our fondest memories involve the steps we have shared together as we have sought to heed the prophet's counsel to Israel, "Let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5).
We have, however, also witnessed many sad scenes. Scenes of death. Frances and I have encountered many creatures who had died along the pathways upon which we have journeyed. Dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, turtles, frogs, insects, and any number of other creatures who have "gone the way of of all the earth" (Joshua 23:14). We often do not know how they died, nor anything else about them other than the fact they no longer walk, fly, or crawl upon the earth. We do know the sadness of their passing, the sorrow that because of human sin, the natural world was subjected to the death our sins made necessary. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin… we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 5:12; 8:22).
Most importantly, we know this:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29).
I do not know what this means, other than this: if our Heavenly Father attends the passing of creatures so seemingly insignificant as sparrows, He must do so for all. It must be that none die alone. All pass in the presence of their Creator, whose "tendermercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).
The thought never fails to still my heart and fill it with wonder. Mostly, it portrays the God who so dearly loves human beings, but in yet another blessed glory of goodness and devotion, all creatures find a place in His heart. Such goodness confirms and enhances the Apostle Paul's blessed affirmation - "the love of Christ passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). How it must! Indeed, trillions upon trillions of creatures have died since the days when "by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin." Not a one has died alone. Again, I do not know what this means regarding our Heavenly Father's presence in the sad moments of demise and death that so fill this present world. I just know that this truth opens a portal into the heart of God that tells us we will never begin to fully discover His sublime character of unselfish devotion to all. "The Lord is good to all… Oh how great is Thy goodness!" (Psalm 145:9; 31:19).
Yesterday, during our walk together with our beagle Ellie, Frances and I encountered the body of a cat who had died. We could not tell the cause of his passing. We did, however, know this: he did not pass away alone. I said as much. Frances responded, "I was thinking the same thing." Just the memory of the moment stills my heart with wonder. None die alone. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without our Father. Nor any other creature made by the One whose creation teems with His tendermercies. How great indeed is our Lord's goodness.
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."
(Romans 11:36)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."
(Matthew 10:29)
7454
No comments:
Post a Comment