God's Role in Death
Below is a sweet, authentic comment from Teresa who had read the blog called Practical Reasons to Trust God in Trials. I thought her reflection was so heartfelt. Her questions poked on the delicate spot of the issue of God’s power and His role in trials, and ultimately, His role in death.
I have pondered these issues for more than 30 years and have tried to merge the pains of this life with the reality of a good, good God. I have struggled at times to make this merge happen smoothly. I have also wrestled with many of the Scriptures and concepts I will share later in this article. I do believe with everything I have that our God is good. He is gentle. He is all powerful.
The wrestling match we have with God over suffering and death is compulsory for those who want intimacy with their God. The wrestling is compulsory for those who want a deep hope that is unwavering. I do, however, believe that we will never get all the answers we desire, even as we search and wrestle with all our might. But maybe the ultimate prize is not the answers, maybe the prize is not a neatly packaged theology. Maybe the prize is a deeper, more authentic, relationship with this mysterious and magnificent God? The pain and suffering and wrestling are all part of His genius design to bring us close to Him, to lead us to that greater trust. Deeper faith emerging from the midst of our harshest pains seems to be His objective in it all of it.
Below are Teresa’s comments taken directly from the blog.
“Interesting thought that God presides over our death. And that death is in His job description. So what do we say to the woman who loses her little boy to cancer or accidental death? Was that God's will? Is every death His will?
He tells us our days are numbered. He knows how long we have here on this earth. It's really hard to think, though, that death is in His job description. I have to ponder this more.
What scriptures can you point me to?”
Teresa, thank you for your authentic reflection. One way I come to the conclusion that death is in God’s Job Description is because if it is not in His Job Description, who’s job is it? Who is in charge? Is God out of control in death?
Philippians 3:10 says that we become like him in his death. John 12:24 likens surrender of the will to death to the self. Proverbs 15:11 says that God sees death and destruction clearly. He is not surprised by it. Romans 8:38-39 says that not even death can separate us from the love of God. Romans 11:33-36 tells us of an all wise God, an all powerful God, and One who is not accountable to anyone for anything. This is a quick smattering of scripture to build a case for a powerful, loving God who is OVER death. Death is not OVER Him. But what about all the pain and suffering initiated by humanity?
It sure does seem like God gives the little humans freedom to both obey Him and disobey Him. With this freedom to disobey, many humans damage and kill other humans. Are these murders and deaths the will of God? At some level, yes and at some level, no. Yes, in the sense that God oversaw these deaths and knows they were coming, but they were not His will in the sense that sin’s effect was at work in the murder. His will, according to 2 Tim 2:4 is that none should perish. But perishing happens at all kinds of levels. God’s will is certainly mysterious. Human freedom and God’s power are not easily mixed, but this is our beautiful faith. God is bigger and stronger than sin and death and pain.
My perception of God is that He is a powerful, benevolent King who tends to us in death. He is not freaked out by the end of life because He knows the reality of Heaven. He is also the perfect judge as well as the only one able to oversee death. But he does deal with us delicate creatures carefully. He weeps with us in the pain of it all.
The question of what would Jesus say to the mother of the child with terminal cancer is all over the gospels. He would enter into their pain. He would weep with her as he did with the grieving friends of Lazarus in John 11. He would lament deeply over the little one’s suffering. He would comfort this mother with His strong arms. He would remind her that He is the Resurrection and the Life. The Son is the one who will ultimately defeat death at the Cross and rise from the dead. What is most encouraging about Jesus interacting with many suffering people is that He does not just lay down shallow theology of God. He gently and empathetically enters their world of pain and grief and death.
This question of God’s role in death is not neat and tidy as some might desire. It is an invitation from Him to deeper intimacy and closeness in the darkest of times.
I imagine and hope my writings on this topic will continue to go deeper in the months to come. I hope to experience His closeness and peace as the fire potentially gets hotter for me. I do not say this in doubting his goodness. I am just not sure what will happen to me. I am asking Him for a miracle, for healing. I have asked for many more years. But if He decides to take me home and I get sick, I would imagine my experience with Him to be deeper and sweeter and more intimate.
“For our light and momentary trouble is achieving for us a glory that far outweighs them all.” -2 Corinthians 4:17