Rest In Peace

‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing’ 2 Tim 4:6-8 (niv)

Last week I mapped out the plan for this week’s blog and how we associate these words of RIP with death and how, through the Lord Jesus being the Prince of Peace, we can rest in peace in the here and now.

However, as I write these words my Mum-In-Law passed from death into eternal life and is now face to face with Our Lord and Saviour.

I am humbled as I reflect on her battle with cancer over the last three years and how together as a family we have walked this walk towards death.

Throughout this terrible journey my Mum-in-law has been stoic throughout, often bearing pain with such elegance and grace. From photos of her younger days, we can see that she has always had an angelic quality, with beautifully defined features which is reflected in the elegance in which she moves and does everyday tasks.  This elegance was part of her character which she never lost right up to the end. 

However, what motivated all she did, her hearts deepest desire was for her family to know the Lord Jesus for themselves. The thought of never seeing her family in glory caused her much distress and fear.  It was the worst possible outcome she could ever contemplate, even the news that she had terminal cancer wasn’t greater than the fear that her family would never know the glory that only comes from eternal life through Jesus Christ.

At times this fear came out in frustration and demand. At times this fear dominated her thoughts so much that she couldn’t see the joy of the future because the darkness of her family being lost forever often overwhelmed her. 

But this is the burden of an evangelist.  The God given ability to speak truth into the hearts of others but her own family always seemingly far off.  We have heard many testimonies from people who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus because of my Mum-in-law, those who will be eternally grateful to call her their Sister in Christ.  I am sure in the coming weeks we will hear of so many more.

In the last three months as the cancer has progressed and her physical weakness had begun to overtake her physical form, her faith has become less complex, her trust in the Lord Jesus for her salvation has spoken volumes to the family and anyone else who has come in contact with her including all the staff at the hospice.

As we mourn our loss, we are warmed by the opportunities the Lord has given our family to forgive well, love well and witness how God gives us the opportunity to die well.

Over the last three weeks of her life, living in the hospice, it gave her the opportunity to, as she put it ‘get her house in order’. She never meant her physical house; she meant her relationships.  She knew she would never return to her address because she knew that she was now destined for her eternal home. 

And now as she not only Rest’s in Peace but lives in complete peace, with no more tears, sin or death we too can;

Rest in Peace as we give thanks to God for her love for us

Rest in Peace as we continue her legacy to love family and friends well through the gospel message of the Lord Jesus

Rest in Peace in the knowledge that the Lord Jesus has provided a way for us too to know the hope that death doesn’t have to be the end if we put out faith and trust in His compassion to die on the cross for us and His power to rise again to demonstrate how he has now defeated not only sin but death itself.

May you know the joy of the Lord Jesus in your hearts and the compassion of the Lord Jesus for the lost.

Dear Mum-In-Law Rest in Peace, you have fought the good fight…..we now pick up your mantle and carry on.  Love and miss you.