In Christ Alone

Death is undignified. 

Hell, parts of life are undignified. 

The song "In Christ Alone" keeps playing in my head.  I have to wonder at the hope and redemption offered by our Savior; how it can be set before someone throughout their entire life without so much as a hesitant reach made for it. 

Death looms. Eternal salvation waits ever patient. What can I do?

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." - Luke 21:28

Until now a death in the family has been comforted with confidence that they have been reunited with their Creator. Now I am unsure how to reconcile the challenges, struggles and pain of a life on earth ending with an unknown eternal fate.

What can I say when I pray over her? Would she even want me to pray over her? The Bible says that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us" (Romans 8:26). I have no idea why but what came out of my mouth was the Numbers 6 benediction that our Pastor ends each sermon with, maybe she would've hated it, maybe not, I really don't know.

I love the song below because it reminds me that with Christ, there are no "maybes", there is only solid, firm, powerful, and commanding love speaking up for us when we don't know what to say. 

In Christ alone, 
H & D

  

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

I will stand
I will stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground, all other ground
Is sinking sand, is sinking sand
So I'll stand