In Praise of God

Strangely, I woke up this morning thinking about illness, death and dying.  Why do we have to die?  Why do we have to endure so much illness?  (Yes, I know the biblical short answer:  “Because of sin.”  But why did God choose these to be the consequences of the fall?)

After a few moments of sadness, unease and prayer, the thought came to me that, even though death is an enemy and consequence of sin, illness and death are both gifts, part of God’s common grace toward all mankind (even as painful and heart-rending as they are).

Think about it.  No other consequences of sin could or would catch our attention so thoroughly, so often, or with such emotion.

No other consequences would be equally present in every culture, every day, of every year, of every century.

No other consequences would repeatedly bring all mankind face to face with some of life’s most important questions:  Why do we have to die?  Why is there so much suffering?  Why does God allow this?

For believers, these “gifts” hold even greater importance, for no other consequences would allow us so many opportunities to powerfully point unsaved family, friends and acquaintances to the hope found in God alone and to the promise of eternal life.

No other consequences would evoke such praise, worship, gratitude and hope as, time and again, illness and death compel us to run for help and peace to the person, work, sacrifice and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No other consequences could so strongly cause our hearts to yearn for the kingdom of heaven.

And so today my new question is this:  Am I faithfully using every instance of illness, death and dying to catapult my heart into greater love, service and devotion to my God?