“Dada I’m scared that you will die”

Those heart rending words were uttered by my 7 year old son last week as we were watching the funeral of one my personal heroes of the faith – Ravi Zacharias. As we were watching the wonderfully put together memorial and tribute to a great life, I noticed my son crying as he rested his head on my lap. I paused and asked him what was wrong. He nodded and said, “nothing”. But as I continued watching, he began to sob uncontrollably. I immediately paused and asked him what was wrong. He said, “Dada, I’m afraid you are going to die. I don’t know what I would do without you.” It broke my heart to hear those words coming from one so young.

As a pastor, I naturally tend to think more and hear more about what’s going wrong with the world. I hurt when I hear about how people are suffering. It affects me so deeply that sometimes I just want to shut the noise out. But that calling has also affected my family in ways that my son has had to process what death, sickness and suffering mean at a young age. As a 4 year old, I remember him passing by one of the tombstones at a cemetery and whispering to his grand-aunt’s grave, “Hi ammachi, how are you?” We visit those who are sick, spend hours listening to stories of brokenness around us and my son accompanies me to many of these places. At least that was the norm, pre-covid. But in all of these places, there are questions that he has. Showing that the wheels of his head are turning, trying to process what’s happening around him. Sometimes he shows empathy by saying, “that’s so sad. They are going through a tough time.” Other times, he doesn’t say much save “Dada can I play on the phone” or “I am sleepy”.

In a world of such unpredictability, what sort of a guarantee could I give my son as he sobbed and cried in front of me that night on that couch? Could I say something like, “Hey, don’t worry. We’ll always be together?” or “Don’t be afraid, we’ll be together a long time” I know better than to make promises I can’t keep. Because honestly I don’t know. I don’t know how much time I have left. Could be a few years, could be a few days. Anything can happen in this sin-evil-suffering-ridden world.

But as I sat there thinking of the words to say, I began to think about Jesus. Why him? Because Jesus knew certainly that his life would end. But he also knew that he would rise again from the dead. A prediction that even his disciples couldn’t believe. At Lazarus’ tomb he said,

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. John 11:25-26 (NIV)

When he rose again from the dead, his disciples changed from being a group of people who were too scared to even be associated with the name of Jesus, hiding from the world around them, to a group of people who were so bold to proclaim his resurrection even in the very place leaders had captured and crucified Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. We suddenly realise that this world isn’t all there is. There is an end to the pain, suffering and injustice we see all around us. Cancer isn’t fair. Covid-19 isn’t fair. Hunger isn’t fair. Poverty isn’t fair. Depression isn’t fair. But that isn’t the end.

The twist in the story. The inevitable light at the end of the tunnel isn’t positive thinking, or thoughtful mantras. It’s the living Savior who has overcome the last enemy of humankind – Death itself. In John’s vision in Revelation, these are the words Jesus said –

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV)

Because he is alive, we who believe in Him will share in the same destiny. Our future has been changed. Condemnation, guilt and death have been taken out of our future and put in our past – dealt with in Jesus at the cross. We have a new future – one where we are raised to life again to be with Him forever. Like Jesus said, “Because I live, you too shall live” (John 14:19) It was this view of the future that led Paul to pen these words

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)

So as I looked into my son’s eyes that night, this is what I said, “We don’t have to be afraid of death. You remember how Jesus rose from the dead? We are going to have the same future. Death is not the end for us. We don’t know how many days we have together, but let’s enjoy everyday we have together. And no matter what happens, you need to remember you have a heavenly Father who will always be with you. And we will be together with Him forever.”

It’s amazing how our outlook is shaped by what we believe – not just relationships, our work, but also something as daunting as death. But such is the life that God offers the world. He doesn’t desire any of us to perish but to have life in Him.

It is this hope that gives us the boldness to face another day and continue to shine the light in this dark, dark world. Because the light is inevitable.

#death #depression #purpose #hope #love #fear