Death – Thou Art a Wasp
It was a Sunday morning. As I was getting ready for church, out of the corner of my eye I saw something red flying in my bedroom. I looked again and caught the quick glimpse of a wasp. I am a waspaphobic (I made up the word, but it is a fear of being stung by wasps). I quickly grabbed something with which to kill the wasp. Turning my head for just a minute allowed the wasp to disappear from sight. I closed the door and began my hunt. Nothing!
As it was getting time to go to church I was sure to keep the door closed when I left. Sunday afternoon was dedicated to a wasp hunt. Nothing! My wife even hunted him a time or two. Nothing! A few hours later and it was time for bed. With great trepidation I crawled into bed.
Did I mention that I am a waspaphobic? How does one sleep with a wasp in the room? The answer is “lightly.” When I did not see the wasp for two days, I convinced myself that Mr. Wasp went out of the house the same way he came into it. Tuesday morning at 2 AM I woke up and saw him back in my room. Just as quickly as he came, he disappeared again. I sat on the edge of the bed holding a fly swatter until 3AM. It wasn’t until Friday that I saw and killed him. There is peace in my house again.
I guess we all understand the torment that comes from such a situation, but let me share two important facts.
1. The wasp can sting me, but it will not kill me.
2. The wasp will ultimately lose the battle.
Oh Death, thou art a wasp. Death can sting me but it cannot destroy me. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” (Matthew 10:28) Death is a temporary situation that only looks final. In the end, I will get up from the dead and so will you. Paul wrote, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
Death can make you afraid. You can sit on your bed and worry through the night. Death can sting you, but in the end it will lose the battle. Jesus assured the victory.
~Lonnie Davis