In the midst of…

by Marvin Bublitz

I recently heard it again. As I stood in the cemetery at the graveside of a friend, the pastor said those familiar words: “In the midst of life we are in death.”

Taken from an old hymn, those words have long had a place in the Committal Liturgy of the people of God. They describe the situation in which we find ourselves in this world. St. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8-12: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”

In the midst of this life, we are surrounded by death. Death hunts and haunts us from conception to grave. As soon as the Lord God creates a new life, it starts on the road to death. For the wages of sin is death, and all are born sinful. In the midst of life we are in death.

In the midst of sickness, Jesus, the great Physician of body and soul, is with us. In the midst of war, the Prince of Peace surrounds us. In the midst of death, Jesus, who is the Life, surrounds us. In the midst of the grave, Jesus, who is the Resurrection, surrounds us. In the midst of Lent, we are surrounded by Easter. “Behold, I am with you always.”

If that were all we had to look forward to, we would be lost in constant despair. But there is more. He Who creates life here, also bestows everlasting life in His kingdom for all who believe. We are on our pilgrimage to that Promised Land, and, like the Children of Israel of old, we will face all manner of trials and turmoil, disease and death on this wilderness journey. We will be attacked by evil. We will face wars and rumours of wars. But the evil of this sinful world does not have the last word. The father of lies does not have the last word. Sin, death, and the grave do not have the last word.

The last word came from the Word made flesh. On the cross He spoke the last word, “It is finished.” The redemption He came to bring, the salvation of the world, the Father’s plan since before the creation of the world, the promise since the Garden are fulfilled in the Messiah on the cross.

As we consider the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness, we would do well to remember how the Lord was with them. Pharaoh’s word of slavery was not the last word for them. Almighty God spoke His word of deliverance. The waters of the Red Sea against the shore was not the last word. The sound of Pharaoh’s horses and chariots was not the last word. Almighty God guided and protected them on their journey. He was with them at every step of the way, and He is with us every step of our journey. Jesus Himself said, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He is always with us to guide and protect us. His love surrounds us. In the midst of sickness, Jesus, the great Physician of body and soul, is with us. In the midst of war, the Prince of Peace surrounds us. In the midst of death, Jesus, who is the Life, surrounds us. In the midst of the grave, Jesus, who is the Resurrection, surrounds us. In the midst of Lent, we are surrounded by Easter. “Behold, I am with you always.”

In the midst of death we are surrounded by Life. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been trying to lead the people of God into hellish despair. He whispers in the ear, “Look at the trouble you have. God has forsaken you.” But he does not have the last word: Jesus has the last word. He is with us always, and gave His life that we could be with Him always in our Father’s Kingdom for eternity.

No matter what evil this sinful world brings you, Jesus brings greater good. No matter what pain comes your way in this sin-cursed world, Jesus brings heavenly relief. No matter what disease befalls you, Jesus brings greater healing. No matter what loved ones suffer death, Jesus brings resurrection and reunion to all who believe. 

The last Word and our only hope is always JESUS.

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Rev. Marvin Bublitz is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s East Regional Pastor.

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