May 21, 2010, Acts 12

Key Verses:


"King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James killed with the sword. When Herod saw how much that pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter."


(Acts 12:1-3)

"The night before Peter was place on trial, he was asleep, fastened to two chains between two soldiers. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, "Quick! Get up!" And the chains fell off his wrist…So Peter left the cell, following the angel…"The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned for me!"


(Acts 12:6-11)


Central Truth:


For Christians, death is gain not loss.



HAVING A GODLY PERSPECTIVE


In the first part of Acts 12, we witness the brutal death of James—the first apostle to die. When Herod saw that it pleased the people, he had Peter imprisoned with the intent to kill him after Passover. The Bible goes on to tell us that the Church was earnestly praying to God for Peter, and the night before Peter was to go to trial, God sent an angel to rescue him.

This story may cause you to ask, why did God allow James to die, and then just a few days later, miraculously save Peter?

In the Pediatric Cancer world, this is a common question, and I have asked it myself. Why does God heal one and not another?

My Jay was diagnosed at the tender age of two with brain cancer. For almost three years, the body of Christ prayed earnestly for God to heal him. Jay was on every prayer chain across the country. Churches organized 24 hour prayer vigils and healing services. Thousands of people were on their knees praying as they followed our story online. If prayer and faith alone could heal, Jay was well covered. Then on March 31st 2006, the unimaginable happened. God allowed Jay to die.

In the days and months following Jay’s death, I found myself questioning God. Why didn't He rescue Jay and miraculously heal him? Why did He not answer the most important prayer of my life? During those three years in the childhood cancer world, I had witnessed God’s healing and rejoiced with other parents over their child’s cure. So, why not my child?

When I turned to God’s word for answers, I realized that my view of death and my Heavenly Father’s view of death were very different. Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." Philippians 1:21-23 says, "To live is Christ and to die is gain…I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far." It is hard for many of us to look at death in this way - to see death as a gain and not a loss or to view death as precious. No one could even consider viewing death this way unless they live for Christ. Without Christ, death is the enemy of man. Those of the world should fear death. However, as Christ followers, we do not have to view death in this manner. We can view death as God views it and not as the world. For Christians, death is gain not loss.

Let’s go back to the story of James and Peter. If we align our view of death with that of God’s, the question could be re-phrased, "Why did God send James on to heaven and not Peter?"
And in my own personal story, my questions now have turned into confident statements of hope. After three years of praying for earthly healing, God rescued Jay and granted him Heavenly healing. My Jay did not lose his battle to cancer but WON and won victoriously.

For all of us who live in Christ, one day we will depart from this world through death to gain the ultimate gift, eternal life. And with a Godly perspective, it is better by far.