Dedication and Edification in Troubled Times

UV 3553/10000 Dedication and Edification in Troubled Times If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. Romans 14 v 8 For St Paul, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” He regarded death not as something to be dreaded but as a promotion, a blessing in order to be fully united with Christ in the spirit. At the same time, he did not seek to hasten his departure or death. As long as the Lord wanted him to live in the flesh, he submitted himself to live in accordance with his will. The only motivation for him to want to live was Christ and the only reason he wanted to die was Christ. He had fully identified himself with Christ. Now, as the world-wide pandemic continues to claim lives and there are nearly 450000 deaths world -wide and about four thousand deaths per day world-wide, we too need to affirm as Paul did, “For us to live is Christ, to die is gain.” For to fear or abhor death is to be stung by death daily and to admit that Christ died and rose again in vain. Christ, being the Resurrection and the Life, accompanies us while we live and resurrects us in the spirit when we die. When we maintain such a faith-based attitude and also confess it with our mouths, the enemy cannot attack us with the weapon of fear. Christ covers us in all situations, whether we live or die. This should give us courage, fortitude and hope to face each new day, each new challenge in these difficult times. The declaration at the end of the uni-verse that “ we are the Lord’s” gives us the assurance that we are the Lord’s responsibility and He has the ability to protect us while we live and redeem us when we die. Everything we aspire and do is aimed upwards towards the Lord even as mountain peaks point towards the sky. The totality of our lives, our hopes, our efforts, our work, our future, our past, our eternity is surrendered to the Lord. We do not hold back anything in our own hands. It does not mean however that we remain passive, inert, irresponsible, careless but while doing all that lies with us to do in terms of diligence, we trust the Lord without reservation, with our whole hearts and minds. Whatever happens whether up or down, health or sickness, trouble or peace, it is for our good, for our best from an eternal perspective. It means total dedication for total dedication is a precondition to complete edification.