How will it end?

Have you ever read the last pages of a gripping thriller before you should have? Like many, I like to know how it will end, and I don't like too many shocks.

As Saturday approached, there was much excitement among fans of the Six Nations Rugby tournament to know how it all might end. As it turned out, it was much more exciting that any might have predicted. 

As we face the relentless approach of the General Election, there are many possible outcomes, which keeps the chattering classes chattering, while normal human beings are driven to despair! But we will discover the outcome one day!

This has been a tough week for many, and many of us have wept more than we thought was possible. 

Brain Colleer was a remarkable man, so full of gentle strength and generous love to a wide range of people. His love for his family and friends was obvious, and his influence stretched far and wide. His deep awareness of Jesus holding him, whatever might happen, was wonderful to see and know. So the events of last Wednesday, and their consequences have been deeply shocking. But my question - 'How will it end?' - stays with me.

The last chapter of the Bible - which we are allowed to read! - tells the wonderful story of how it will end.

'For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.' (Revelation 22.3-5) I can picture Brian enjoying this new and final experience already!

We were made to enjoy the presence of God, and to be fully alive. Just as the sun brings us warmth and life, so God will bring us such life that, in the present, we can only dream about. Because of Jesus, crucified and raised, as the Lamb of God, who has been through death, and who is now the source of our life, we can know with total confidence that our own death, and the death of those we love, need not be the last word.

St. Paul's glorious mountain top words in the middle of his letter to his friends in Rome say this so well. 'Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8.35-39)

These words bring me hope, while the tears continue to flood my eyes, and while my heart is broken by the pain of parting.

Best wishes,

Richard