Sunsets

Yesterday I had a rheumatologist appointment in Vancouver.
Since my old meds weren't working anymore, my doctor switched me to a new one called Felunamide. It costs $10,000.00 a year, which is more than I can afford.
But because I have failed the more common drugs, Dr. Lacaille, thankfully , informed me the government would cover the cost for it. I just have to wait a few days for authorization.
New drugs, of course, are never 'free'. They come with warnings of the potentially serious side effects --- some fatal -- 'if experiencing these side effects drug use may have to be discontinued'.
(especially if they cause death, right? smile)
Even though I trust my Rheumatologist, I always do my research before I take new drugs carefully weighing the risks vs. the benefits. And it is never comforting to read of some of the more horrific side effects.

Death is not something we like to consider or talk about. And yet as surely as we have been born, we will all one day leave this earth. Sooner or later (unless Jesus returns first!) death will claim the life we so value and enjoy.

I sometimes wonder at people who have no faith in God. How do they deal with the inevitability of death? Does it really not fill them with trepidation and fear? If it does, for the most part they hide it well, or simply choose not to think about it.

But how things change for us who are believers!!! Even though we do not seek death and we grieve and mourn for those who leave us, we have the assurance that 'death' does not end 'life'.

Last night coming home from Vancouver, suddenly the sky provided some 'WOW!" moments.
It was spectacular!!!
Of course, I had my camera and tried to capture some of the glory for you !

As I was looking at these photos this morning and marveling at the beauty of God's sunset sky, I thought about how many sunsets have been daily admired around the globe for thousands of years.

Each sunset has its own glory, and the glory never grows old.

I have yet to meet someone who declared they were tired of looking at sunsets.

And I thought about the message of the sunset.

The sunset marks the end of the day.

Some days - we are relieved when they are finally over.

Some days - are almost perfect.

But every day ends with a sunset.

I wonder....did God make the end of a day so breathtakingly beautiful to show us we need not fear the end of our life? That death is but the beginning of a glory we cannot even imagine?? That death is not to be dreaded but faced with wide-eyed anticipation?

When Paul writes in I Cor.15:54 that "death is swallowed up in victory!" and then goes on to exclaim "Death, where is your sting?" is he seeing the mysterious beauty of life's sunset ?

When Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, "and upon those who sat in the ...shadow of death, Light has dawned!" , is this Light in the face of death symbolized by the awesome light of the sunset??

A great gift that God has put into every person's heart is the will to live !

We are programed to fully and completely partake of this earthly life, but when death does come bringing grief to the ones left behind...we "sorrow not as those who have no hope!" (I Thess. 5:13).

We will see our loved ones again....they are just on the other side of the sunset.

And one day soon we too will step through that wondrous light and join them.

"I thank you , Lord, this day for the beauty of your loving promises poured out into the sunset !! Grant that we would not be so consumed with the things of this life that we miss your Words written in the sky. May reading them fill us with Your joy!!" Amen