One of the greatest lines in a movie, ever was in the movie "Troy". King Priam bravely and secretly visits the tent of Achilles who had only a few hours earlier killed his son, Hector and then dragged the body off by his feet, behind his chariot to further humiliate Hector. Priam asks Achilles to "give him this small mercy" and return Hector's body to be properly buried. Achilles is deeply touched by Priam's bravery and sincerity. Here is his response: Achilles: "If I let you walk out of here [with the dead body of your loved one], If I let you take him; it doesn't change anything. You're still my enemy in the morning. Unphased by the swelling words of the great Achilles, Priam replies:
"You're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect for one another."
The line is prevalent to me now because 2011 has been a year that many people who I am acquainted with have gone to be with the Lord. My family has seen seven this year (since December 2010) alone. Then this past week, my godmother, 83 and two other men of God, both relatively young 53 and 44 were taken by death. Undoubtedly, the desire is for our loved ones to stay with us on this earth without suffering, and then we can all go to God together, when our lives are over. Instead, loved ones plead with death, for mercy and respect. Death doesn't give either. He is our enemy. He is not so kind as Achilles was to Priam to give back what he has taken. And we are left with a seeming hopelessness about the fate of our loved ones.
It is only seeming, however. Because the same blow that death deals us to cause our pain, is the same blow that has ushered our loved ones into the presence of God. He can not win. Death can not win. Jesus has won.
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
(1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV)
No comments:
Post a Comment