Victory over the final breath

Laura Digan March 05, 2020 0 4

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Romans 5: 12-21 (NRSVA)

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

My wee Granny was my best friend. I adored her. She knew everything about me and she still loved me. She was my champion, my encourager and my confidante. Even though she was only 4ft 10 inches she was a towering presence in my life. She had always been there for me in my life, so it was only right that I should be there with her as her life on this earth ended. 

We sat around my wee Granny’s hospital bed. She was unconscious, but we hoped she could hear us. We held her hand, we laughed, we shared memories, we sang, we cried. At first, even though her body was fast failing, her breathing was strong. But then it changed. Her breath slowed, the timbre like nothing I had ever heard before and we knew the time of her last breath was nearing. We reassured her it was ok to go, to leave us behind. Those who had went before her were waiting on the other side. Her Mother, Her Father, Her Husband. 
They were just that last breath away. 

And as she breathed her last breath I knew it wasn’t the end. I knew through the love and agony of our Lord Jesus my Wee Granny was with God and I would see her smiling face again. Death is not the end. Her spirit is with me and she visits me in my dreams and we will be together again one day in heaven. 

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for loving us so much that you endured the agony of the cross,
Thank you for defeating death
Thank you for giving us everlasting life with you.