I’m Sorry for Your Loss
I spoke these words and heard these words too many times over this past week.
Austin, a life-long friend of my son and a precious young man to many, passed away unexpectedly at the tender age of 18. This young man and his family are dear friends of ours and some of the first friends we made when we moved to Charlotte. We were devastated by the news of Austin’s passing and we have struggled to make sense of what seems like a senseless death.
We are plagued by the questions of:
Could we have done more?
Why did he pass?
How can we honor his life?
How can we begin to move on?
Now, we are faced with these truths.
We lost Austin.
He is no longer here on earth with us.
There is a void in our lives that may never be filled.
Philippians 1:21 reads:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul is sitting in prison awaiting his fate, of which he may be found guilty and sentenced to death. However, as you read on, he is acknowledging that he has a desire to depart and be with Christ, but remaining may be needed to finish his progress and joy of faith.
As believers, this verse makes sense. It so clearly depicts the human struggle of wanting to be with Christ, while simultaneously needing to fulfill our work here on earth.
Over this past week, our family has spoken the words, “I am sorry for your loss,” so many times, yet Paul writes, “To die is gain.” In our ongoing search for equilibrium, when something is gained, something else is lost. While we are dealing with our loss, Austin is in heaven relishing his gain.
Upon death, we gain direct, in-person access to Jesus, God, and heaven. We gain peace and are no longer burdened with our humanness here on earth. We gain eternity and are no longer dealing with earthly struggles and things that don’t make sense. The Bible tells us we, as believers, will go to heaven and be burdened no more. We will gain peace, healing, and reward that is not available here on earth.
Last Saturday, Austin gained big time. He gained complete healing, he gained the peace he has been searching for, and he gained an eternity with Christ. His work here on earth is done.
Because of Jesus, complete and utter loss and sadness can co-exist with complete and utter gain.
Because of Jesus, “I’m sorry for your loss,” isn’t the final phrase spoken over a believer's life. Those are the words we use here on earth while God is speaking, “well done, good and faithful servant” in heaven.
As we approach the most powerful loss/gain situation known to man - Good Friday and Easter Sunday - I hope that we can take Paul’s words to heart and fully embrace the truth that loss and gain can co-exist and that our pain of loss is as real as the joy of gain.
God, thank you. Thank you for your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love that allows us to feel hope in our darkest moments. We ask that you help guide us through the darkness with your promise of eternity. We ask that you comfort our hearts and allow us to fully feel our sadness while holding onto the knowledge of the gain of death. We are grateful that you hold and comfort us when nothing on earth can. It is in our deepest gratitude that we thank you for your son, Jesus Christ.