One of my father's favorite pastimes was to walk through a cemetery. Sometime he took me with him when walking quietly in the Hubbard, Iowa Cemetery where my grandfather was buried. He would point out the names and dates on tombstones of family members and old friends too, and tell me their stories. Ever since then I too have enjoyed strolling through cemeteries with contemplative thoughts in mind.

J. Vernon McGee says that reading Genesis 5 is like walking through a cemetery. Remember, God had told Adam, "...in the day that you eat of it [the tree of knowledge of good and evil] you shall surely die" (Gen. 2:17). Paul tell us, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Rom. 6:23). He also says, "For as in Adam all die..." (1 Cor. 15:22). Now let us begin this walk through the world's oldest cemetery. "So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died" (Gen. 5:6). Seth lived to be 112; "and he died" (Gen. 5:8). Enosh lived to be 905, "and he died" (Gen. 5:11). The long funeral cortège continues through Genesis 5. So and so lived so many years. "And he died." The three words are repeated over and over, like a solemn drum roll. "And he died...and he died...and he died."

As I write these words a good friend of mine is in the hospital, surrounded by loving family memories. A few days ago she suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. She is nearly 96 and has lived a long, rich, full and satisfying life. I have sat at her table countless times enjoying food and fellowship with her. But now she is dying. The family has already asked me to participate in funeral service, which I will be honored to do. She, "as in Adam," will die. But thank God for Jesus, the "second Adam," in Whom she put her trust many years ago. Yes, we will all die some day. But we have a living hope because of Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). All those who have died in Christ will some day come forth from cemeteries all over the world to meet their Lord in the sky. What a day that will be! "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16). This promise should cause us all to say, "O Death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55).

Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for removing the sting of death through Christ our Lord. We praise you that the grave has no victory over us through Christ our Lord!