Death and Music

 

Death is a reality I have had to confront recently. With the passing of Cari’s grandfather in February, some church members here recently, some people Cari has served at work and now a missionary friend in Bolivia I find myself thinking about death a lot. Not in a grim way, or in a scared way, but in a realistic way. Death comes to all, whether we are ready for it or not. I was recently reminded at a wake of the classic passage in Ecclesiastes, “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die” (Eccl. 3:1-2).

As we know Easter is a season, not a day; and it is a season that is celebrated between the resurrection of Christ and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came. Tertullian, an early church father (200 A.D.) said that Easter is “a most joyous space.”* While this is certainly true, life and its struggles and even death are still a reality during the Easter Season. And it’s during those struggles, and wrestling with death, where Basil of Caesarea’s words from 380 A.D. are most encouraging. He said that Easter “reminds us of the resurrection which we await in the other world.”*

As we await that resurrection we are continually reminded that we live in a broken world, a world in need of healing and hope. To help remind me of the hope we have in Christ’s resurrection, and in our one-day resurrection, I have been listening to a CD entitled "Risen" put out by Sovereign Grace Music. From the liner notes in the album we are reminded of these important truths, “Christ’s resurrection was more than a display of raw supernatural power. It was the single event that assures us that his payment for our sins has been accepted. God’s wrath is satisfied. Death is defeated. The powers of darkness are overcome. Sin’s dominion has been broken. And the life of the age to come has dawned.”

These songs dealing with Christ's Resurrection have been encouraging, especially "To Live is Christ" and "Jesus Lives." As I listen to this CD, and let the lyrics wash over my soul, I am continually reminded that death has been defeated, and that it holds no power over the believer who loves and follows Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to take some time and listen to all the songs for free on their website.

Whatever we may face this Easter Season may we remember this truth from Paul: "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him" (1 Thess. 4:13-14).

*From Robert Webber’s Rediscovering the Christian Feasts © 1998, pg. 92.