8/01/2009

Death As A Law of Life

By Frank Mihalic

Around us everyday we see many examples of death bringing forth life. A kernel of corn is buried and it grows into a tall cornstalk. The ice cube dissolves and it cools the water. A match burns itself out to light a fire. Water gets itself dirty to clean you. A battery goes dead giving you music and light. Wood burns itself out to cook your food. A tree dies to give you sago. Animals and plants die to give you your food.

By dying, all these things rise to a higher life. That is what death of a Christian is all about.

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Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalms 116:15)

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)

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Truly a servant even unto death. Now she is finally free from her earthly tasks after going through the final phase of her purpose on earth.

Memories of her may die with the passing of time, but the impact of the legacy of this reluctant leader will surely live and flourish for generations to come.

In her death, may her dreams for the nation rise from the ashes of people's distrust of leaders, and passed on to flourish in the new hearts and minds of the next generations.