The Cry of a Lost Soul is Hard to Watch and Hear

There are not many times when you can look at a lost individual and see and feel the anguish they are going through than when a loved lost soul dies. This is what our faith comes down to and why we have a Savior. If you follow the teachings of the Christian faith, and even if you don’t, most know the basis of our faith. Jesus came to live among us, then He was crucified as a sacrifice for our sinful lives, so that we may have everlasting life. Life beyond our decaying bodies of this world, life with Him.

He didn’t just die for a select few, He died for all of us, but those who have not yet come to faith in Jesus are lost to the saving power of Jesus Christ and have no hope in death, only fear. I recently spent a lot of time in a large hospital ICU where over a period of several days, many Believers and lost alike, died. The different reactions that people had to their loses was astounding, and apparent.

The loss of a Believer within a Believing family was certainly one of sadness and grief that this person who blessed many lives that will no longer be around to enhance the lives of those still here. But for the most part, the family members knew and had confidence in the Lord that He would save this person as we are told throughout scripture. The families were sad for their personal loss, and happy for the person who was now in the presence of our Lord.

Then, within hours, to see someone in pure agony and anguish, inconsolable, screaming oh my god, oh my god, over and over from the loss they suffered. I know the fear and anguish is real, and you can feel it. This person has truly been lost to the presence of our Lord, and there is no way to pray the dead person to a belief in Christ. Most times we like to look at the positive in scripture and forget about why and how we got to this point, through sin. When we do this, we often times remove the reasons our Lord came to this earth in the first place. As it is stated in Matthew 7: 20-22, not all who cry out for God will be saved.

Matthew 7

20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

When a group came into the ICU close to where I had been sitting for days, literally screaming in anguish over a friend who was just shot and killed, I felt anguish and sorrow for them. Their screams ripped through me with the understanding of what had just happened and the faith they had come in with. This group of people came into the emergency room with a worldly hope of saving someone, and not long after, they left the ICU without hope, in an uncontrollable state of sorrow and torment.

As they walked out of the hospital without the person they arrived with a few hours earlier, I understood more clearly why Christ came to save us and what He did for us 2000 years ago. He did not die on the cross for our souls to be in torment and sorrow, but to spend eternity in the presence of the Lord. All we have to do is accept His gift to us.

I am glad to have the understanding that this world is not as good as it gets. Christ is the Great Comforter, if we let him.