Daily Devo
When Faith Becomes Sight
By: Kim Garrett
Monday, May 13, 2024
"Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'" Luke 23:43 (NKJV)
When I was a nurse, one of my patients' biggest fears was the fear of death.
My fifteen-year career in nursing abruptly ended because of a chronic disease diagnosis. Prior to this, I spent many hours at the bedside of terminally ill patients. As a Hospice nurse, I witnessed hundreds of patients breathe their last breath. Therefore, I write from two perspectives:
- Professional, from hands-on experience alongside those who faced death.
- Personal, from someone who loves and follows Jesus.
Death doesn't have the final word. No, there's more... much more.
Through faith in Jesus, we bypass death's sting (1 Corinthians 15:55). As the psalmist beautifully pens in Psalm 23:4, one day we'll walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear. Why? Because we won't be walking alone. I've seen patients reach out and speak to a loved one who left earth years earlier. I've seen patients who didn't respond to verbal commands or physical touch for days suddenly open their eyes and softly sing the sweet chorus of their favorite hymn. I saw a teenager glance over to the other side of her bed and whisper, "Jesus, is it time? Can I go with you now?" The One who lavishes His great love on us, the One who conquered death will guide and comfort us as we transition into eternal life with Him.
The Word of God is the voice of God, so we have a personal invitation from heaven above. Believe! Believe that one day you will experience an immediate transfer from a world racked with pain, disappointment, and heartache, to an eternal home without sickness, anxiety, or doubt. Faith will become sight. Sudden death, instant glory. Last breath here, next breath in the arms of Jesus.
Prior to working in Hospice, I feared to face my own death. But, as I served and watched patients experience their final hours of life, I realized I had nothing to fear and everything to hope for.
In and through Christ, our fear of death, can be overcome. Why? Because there's so much more!
Read: John 11:25-26, Matthew 10:28, 2 Corinthians 5:8