Psalm 4:8
In complete peace, I will lie down, and I will sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You give us words that are so timely. We all want to rest in peace; for many years, it was engraved on the gravestone. The truth is only those who trust in Jesus will have complete peace. Jesus told us that no one comes to you except for going through him. To get to heaven on our own, you require us to live our entire life with perfection. If we stumble at only one point, we are guilty of sinning against all the law. Or we have faith in the forgiveness Jesus won for us, and the gates of heaven are unlocked through his forgiveness. When our days come to an end, we will either begin suffering eternally for our sins or resting in your complete peace. It is faith in Christ that makes all the difference. At the end of a Christians’ life, you give us peace with what is about to happen. Our souls pass from this life to the next. This body will sleep, but we have the promise of everlasting life because of Jesus’ holy life and innocent death. On judgment day, that body that rested in the grave will also be raised again. As Paul told the Corinthian Church, “That is the way the resurrection of the dead will be. What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.” Because of Jesus’ work, he gave his life to remove all our sins; they kept us from being with you. As we close our eyes on our last day, thank you for the complete peace we have. We know that we will dwell with you. No more sin, pain, sorrow, or death. Jesus suffered our punishment, he removed our sin, and he defeated death. We know this because you tell us this in your word. Lord, thank you for giving us your words of comfort when we finally face our end. It will be with complete peace that we lie down and sleep with you. Amen.
Roger Emmons
Pastor
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
We all believe something. Either it is self or Christ; one brings an eternity of suffering the other delivers an eternity of rest. So when you lay down that final time, it is Christ alone that gives you complete peace.