No Fear for Mom

What does no fear for mom look like?  Let’s go back in time to the ancient city of Joppa.  The most remarkable thing happened.  A woman named Tabitha died, but then was raised to life again!  I’m sure that everyone in the town of Joppa knew of this Christian church, but when this miracle happened. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.  People took notice of what Peter was saying and many people believed.  That the spiritual dead, souls who don’t know Jesus, came to faith is just as great a miracle seeing the newly resurrection Tabitha drop off a new dress for the widow down the street.

Jesus’ words are just as powerful today as they were in Joppa.  Jesus still forgives you for doubting his plan for your life.  He forgives you when you get angry with him.  And he even forgives mothers.  Once there was a mother who recently shared with me a story about how her infant son found something, put it into his mouth, and started to choke.  It was very scary.  The windpipe was swiped and the baby was ok, but the mom felt terrible.  I’m not a mom, but I know that parenting can be one big guilt trip.  If you are a mom (or any parent) I encourage you to go to the cross to know that you are forgiven too.  Please leave your guilt at the cross so that you can be filled with joy.

The story I started with was a curious one, wasn’t it?  Why would I tell you about someone being almost dead but not really?  It wasn’t because I was trying to create doubt in your mind about our text.  What I am trying to do is challenge your thoughts about death.

“At a Funeral Home you learn about someone’s death.  At Daley Life Celebration Studio you learn about someone’s life. We capture the spirit of your loved one and start the healing process for you and your family. Our Services are unique, and they are personal. Family Members and guests leaving our services have a warm, wonderful feeling about the person recently passed. It’s a feeling we can’t quite explain, you have to experience it. We Hope you will.”

Christianity offers something quite different from a warm, wonderful feeling.  How would you describe the Apostle Paul’s defiant taunt?  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  You realize that Tabitha isn’t still walking the earth.  She died a second time.  All of us, unless our Risen Savior returns first, will die too.  I don’t know if you will die, but I know for a fact that all of you will live.  You will stand upon the earth on the last day.  Do you see that even more certain that your death is your life?  Jesus proved that when he rose from the dead on Easter.  Because of Easter you have no fear of death!  Because of Jesus’ love, there is no fear for mom.