Loss and Grief:Biblical Perspective
Loss and grief were not part of God’s plan for His creation made in His image..
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Garden of Pleasure
10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone arethere. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel;it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
Banished from Eden
Genesis 3:23-24 “therefore, the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Before Loss
God’s creative hand made a garden in Eden. Perfection. The Hebrew root of the word Eden is used to translate the words: delight, pleasure, and delicate. It also means Heaven and Paradise. This place had perfect weather, had no stinging, biting bugs to annoy, no aggressive animals to guard against, nothing to fear, and only ONE rule: do not eat from a specific tree.
Perfection Lost
Each day was filled with “walking in the cool of the day” with the LORD Himself. No war, no rumors of war, no natural disasters, no death, no disease, no thorns, thistles, and no tilling the ground to produce food. Hours on end of exploring this rich environment, naming the animals, tasting delicious fruit, and enjoying the company of each other and God. There was plenty of water from four rivers for drinking, swimming, bathing, and observing. Is anything more peaceful than sitting on the bank and listening to the sounds of waterfalls, seeing fish jumping, and watching flora and fauna.
This is the place once enjoyed and now lost forever to the earth’s first couple and all their children. The way home barred by flames. The loss of a home is a traumatic event in one’s life and can leave deep heart scars.
Burned and Lost
A few weeks ago, my phone rang at a very early hour especially for my night owl sister. Her home had caught fire and now she would be “homeless” for an extended period. Her belongings ruined by smoke, water, and heat: Charred cabinets, wet insulation, walls, furniture, fried computers and other electronics. Smoke permeated all her clothes, linens, and upholstered furniture not ruined by water. UGH!!! She was quite shaken but unhurt. Tears filled her voice and I could see in my mind the trail of tears. She was trying her best to retain control and be calm to get to the business of dealing with the loss.
Loss and grief now part of a fallen world
One other example, many years ago my in-laws home burned to the ground and they lost all their earthly belongings. They were more than able financially to replace everything except the sentimental treasures. This loss was so profound to them they never fully recovered emotionally. The family spent days sifting through ashes hoping to find anything! This same couple lost a vacation home in a hurricane! These events required a major shift in living. Life required use of new coping skills. Fears were planted and the security of “home” was gone.
After Loss
Adam and Eve were banished. They were escorted out of their gorgeous home and the door was locked tight. Paradise was lost. The sanctuary sealed. Once a life of peace and tranquility was now one of blood, sweat, and tears just to eat. The earth was no longer friendly toward them. Bugs sting, snakes bite, weather was hot and cold, skin was burned by the sun, hands grew calloused, babies entered the world with pain, and discord and death came into their lives.
This is our inheritance. It is an inheritance God did not “hardwire” us for at all. He created us for the garden and now we are outside of Heaven struggling to just survive. We must work hard to put a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, keep our children healthy, and keep death at bay.
John 16:3 I have told you theses things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I (Jesus) have overcome the world.
Redeemed from Loss
There are many losses in life. However,the Bible addresses them all. The loss of a home is classified as a catastrophic loss. Each type loss requires different skills and challenges our faith on different level. Our Father, though He evicted us out into the world because of sin, has not left us alone. He has worked from the beginning to restore our relationship to Himself and bring us home to the Garden again. He promised in the waiting, He would care for us better than sparrows. (Matthew 6:26-34)
Paradise Regained
Gardens are special places. Jesus loved to go to the Garden to pray. He knew His Father was there. Go to the garden, get a glimpse of all you have to look forward too, feel the sweet Presence of God in the cool of the day. Most importantly, let the Father remind you of where you belong and let Him lead you HOME! Your true home is Heaven where there is no pain, no sorrow, no death, no tears. (Revelation 21:4) It is there You are “hardwired” for; here you have no need of coping skills!
Enter Paradise by Ben Everson and Amber Foster. (YouTube)
Hope for Loss and Grief
This series on loss may seem dark and drear but, I promise, you will find hope for your loss. Our Father cares enough to give us the very best (to borrow an expression from Hallmark) . In conclusion, come with me and dive deep into God’s Word for the inspiration to trust Him with tomorrow and to give you a future. I have certainly walked in the valley of the shadow of death and I know it is a journey through not a place to stay. We will help each other as we stumble in the darkness, cry our tears, and find a His new purpose for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 56:8, Psalm 23) We are not alone!
You are not alone
If you have followed us for long you know this is my passion: To walk with the weary toward home. If you are struggling in life, you are not alone. Email me and we will journey together….I understand.
The Grief of God, April 17, 2019
Other posts regarding loss/grief:
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/05/23/cloud-of-witnesses-unending-grief/
