Passing Through The Valley Of The Shadow of Death
SERMON
Passing Through The Valley
Pastoral Administration
Reformed Episcopal Seminary
Monday, January 21, 2008
Submitted By
Elvis Lee Turner, Sr.
Passing Through The Valley
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalms 23:1-6 (KJV)
Today is a day of grieving. I understand that. We grieve because we hurt. Death has hit home. It has touched a loved one and we hurt. God made us so that we can have relationships with one another – and when that relationship is lost because of death – we hurt. When that relationship is lost we feel pain. When that relationship is lost we grieve.
I would not say everything is all right – because it is not. You hurt and we acknowledge that fact. You will hurt for a long time – because everyone who has lost a family member or a close friend hurts for quite a while. And so I say to you – grieve. Grieve long and grieve deeply. Do not run from it. Do not treat your grief as if it were a stranger you can send away or deny. Grieve what is lost. Grieve honestly. Grieve lovingly. Grieve patiently, until the cup is emptied. There is no other way back to wholeness but by facing our grief.
Yet, if you would allow me I would like to speak a word of comfort today. It comes from the 23 Psalm. It is found in verse four. Let me read that verse four again.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4 (KJV)
You may not know this but in Israel there is a real Valley of the Shadow of Death. It’s deep. It’s steep. It’s a very narrow canyon. The sun only hits the floor of the valley at high noon. The rest of the time the valley is dark. I want to give you three quick facts about the valley of the shadow of death.
1. The valley of death is UNAVOIDABLE. The valley of death is going to happen – you can count on it. The Bible tells us, “People die once, and after that they are judged.” Hebrews 9:27 (GW) The Bible makes it plain that it is appointed for all people to die - we don’t live forever in this world. Death is a fact of our existence - no matter how much we struggle against this fact - it is unavoidable.
Fact number two: The valley of death is UNPREDICTABLE. You can’t plan your time of death – it just doesn’t work that way. The average male in America now lives to the age of 78. The average female in America now lives to the age of 82. John was 80 years old. When John was born, he was unaware of how long he would live. The time of death is unpredictable - we just don’t know when our life will end.
Fact three: The valley of death is IMPARTIAL. No one is immune. No one escapes death in this life. Death does not take into account how much money you have. Death does not take into account what gender you are. Death does not take into account how much education you have. Death does not even take into account how healthy you are – death will eventually come to your door.
These facts about death seem somewhat depressing - but they are facts just the same. But here is the good news. Here is the reason we can have hope - even in at the time of death.
I’m not afraid of the valley of death. Why? Because I have a relationship with God – He has promised that He will walk with me through that valley. God has promised to walk with me every step of the way. God promises His presence. God does not leave me alone. “He walks with me.” “He guides me.”That’s what verse four tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:4 (KJV)
Let me give you another reason we can have hope. We can have hope because Jesus died but He conquered death. Jesus stopped breathing. Jesus heart stopped beating. Jesus died - but He came back to life. That is what the celebration of Easter is all about. Jesus who was dead - is alive again. God brought Him back to life. The grave of Jesus is empty - no body lies there.
But there’s another reason to have hope. If we put our trust in Jesus – if we build a relationship with Him – He has promised to give us eternal life. He not only walks with us through the Valley of The Shadow of Death - “He gives us eternal life.” The best known verse of the Bible confirms this fact. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)
If we trust in Jesus death does not go away. It is UNAVOIDABLE, it is still UNPREDICTABLE and it is still IMPARTIAL. But Jesus has promised to not only walk with you through the Valley of the Shadow of Death - He will also to give you eternal life.
Today is a day where we face death. We are in grief. But if we trust in Jesus today - when death comes knocking on our door you can say, “I will fear nothing - not even death - because God is with me and He has to power to give eternal life.”
Let us pray.