Confidence, even in the face of death
by Pastor Mark Lieschke
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Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46a).
Read Luke 23:44–56
‘Why, God? Why must we die? Why do some children die? Why are there some painful deaths? Why do innocent people die because of the selfishness and stupidity of others? Couldn’t you plan things some other way?’
And we could go on. As hard as life may be, we usually don’t want it to end. We want it to continue. Death is too final, too total. And it’s too much of an unknown for us.
So, we can cling to life as we know it here and now. We can try to resist death from coming by fighting against it with all our might. Death can bring feelings of helplessness, despair and defeat – and there’s no way we want to experience those things. We want to live and continue living so we can resist death as much as we possibly can.
Jesus accepted the reality of death. And he did this because it was the only way for us to face death with peace and confidence. He died for us for us so that we can live and die and live again.
He willingly gave up his life for us. His life wasn’t taken from him, but he gave it up of his own accord. ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit’, he said.
Perhaps we can’t speak these words in the same way he did. But God continually reminds us through his word and wants us to believe without any doubt that when our life fails – and, in fact, every day – we can commit ourselves to his fatherly hands.
As sure as God raised Jesus from the dead, so will we be raised too. We won’t be lost or destroyed because Jesus has guaranteed our salvation. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection for us, we can face death with peace and hope.
Lord God, thank you that because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we can grow to face our own death with confidence in your saving grace. Give us peace and hope when we are discouraged, fearful and doubting. And enable us to say also: ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit.’ Amen.
Mark Lieschke is a retired pastor living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He served in parishes in South Australia, New Zealand and New South Wales before being elected as bishop of the LCANZ’s New South Wales District. Mark enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, walking on the beach and relaxing.
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