”Our Constant Guide is He”
It's been several days since the morning Psalm was 48 but the last verse of that Psalm keeps echoing in my mind in the words of the Psalter, “even on through death itself, our Constant Guide is He.” One of the greatest truths in our relationship with the Lord is that He leads and guides us and lives within us. “I will make my abode with you,” He promised. And “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
That last verse 14 reads like this: “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” So why fear death? It is but the entry into eternal life and God Himself will take us there. One of the old versions in a footnote translates the Hebrew, “He will guide us beyond death.” And Psalm 68:20 reassures us, “Our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.” So at death we are where we have always been, in God's hands.
Most of you know that I'm writing a book about my wife's journey through life and on into eternal life through death so I'm re-reading some of the old e-mails from her last days and I find it encouraging—and I'm sure you will, too—to see that death was not something she dreaded but realized that it was God who was leading her through it, just as He had led her throughout her entire life. Here's what she wrote to the family as another CT Scan told us what we had already suspected, that cancer was spreading and intensifying its grip on her.
On November 10, 2009—just two months before she died—Minnie wrote to the family the news of her latest CT scan and revealed her attitude both towards life and death:
"In January when we found the cancer had returned, the doctors all thought I would live only a short time. As you all remember, I went through radiation and low-dose chemo for 5 weeks. At the end nothing had changed so we were back to what we all have to do--live one day at a time and thank our Lord for it. Each morning I remind myself that this is the day the Lord has made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it. This July and August the tumor was growing, so we tried chemo again. I was very sick the whole time. Then from the end of August until September 18, I was in the hospital for the bowel bypass. Praise God, I was able to come home and have some very good days.
"The last couple of weeks have been difficult with new problems, so yesterday we went to Edmonds to see Dr. Ward. I don't think either of us was surprised to learn that the cancer is growing and has spread. God has given us time for visits with each of you and to prepare our hearts. Now we just need to pray for extra grace for the days ahead. "Right now, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I feel that I need time alone with Dad and the Lord. God has let us have wonderful visits with each of you, and I love everyone of you so very much." Love Mimi
Minnie was sorrowful to be separated (temporarily) from those she loved, but she did not fear the actual passage through death into life eternal because she knew the truth of this scripture that God “will guide us beyond death.”
Some months before this time she wrote to her friend who was also suffering with cancer, “My Dear Friend, First of all, I did shed tears--both outwardly and in my heart--and it was not fear. Our emotions get the best of us at times and God does not despise our tears or see them as weakness or a lack of trust in Him. We can glorify him with our tears. It is the trust in our hearts and that is what He sees. I also want to glorify the Lord as long as He leaves me here on earth. I read the little book by John Piper, Don't Waste Your Cancer, and it has been my prayer that the Lord will use this for his glory. . . .
“I tell everyone that I am going to be o.k.--whether if it is here or in Heaven. Only our Lord knows the date of our departure from this life--and when it comes, he will come for us and take us to forever be with Him.”
“Psalms 56:8 talks about our tears--and there is no criticism for tears. We are all different and react emotionally in different ways, so don't think that my lack of tears was something special. I just seldom weep unless I am alone.”
“We both love you . . . so very much and we pray that the Lord will give you great peace and guide everyone that has a part in your care and recovery. Love and Prayers,
Minnie Psalm 56:8 KJV "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"
The separation brings us sorrow but there's no reason for fear. Has not Jesus said, “It is I. Be not afraid.”
Most of you have either heard me say these things or read what I wrote, but perhaps someone needs to be reminded again that Jesus told us “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 For my part I wrote at the same time that Minnie did:
“
This is by far the most traumatic event of my entire life, but God has given me time to grieve and to weep and now He is giving me His peace and assurance of seeing her again. For the months remaining [and it was only 2 months left] we live each day rejoicing in the Lord and taking pleasure in His gifts and sharing from the Word and preparing good food and laughing a bit and enjoying just being together. All those devotionals about how the Bible comforts us in the midst of our sorrow ("sorrowful but always rejoicing") I wrote for myself first and then shared them with you. 'In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.' Psalm 94:19”http://billandminnieburnside.blogspot.com/search/label/Comfort Sorrow and joy, peace and comfort from God. That's what you can anticipate as the day of your departure draws nearer. But you need not fear. That's an unnecessary burden.
“Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.” Psalm 73:24 NIV
--Pastor Burnside
