She doesn't die, right Mommy?

On Wendnesday night as the sun was going to bed and the mosquitos were coming out to play, my 5-year-old little girl and I headed out to watch The Wizard of Oz on the blow-up screen in the city park. Loaded with blankets and our folding chairs we joined the small-town crowd gathered to watch this long-standing favorite.

One chair really did work better as a footstool and we snuggled together on the other one. Smart move. We'd forgotten the bug spray and two bodies are warmer than one. Repeatedly throughout each intense scene in the film she would lean in tight and say, "She doesn't die, right Mommy?" Each time I would answer, "No, she is going to be OK." And she would turn her eyes back to the screen and hold her breath till the tension passed.

As her racing heart pressed into mine the words of Hebrews 11 echoed in my soul. How amazing is our God. He knows we are but dust. He understands our infirmities. He knows that we could not bear the sanctification process of suffering and pain if we did not know that in the end the promises are fulfilled! Christ is the victor! Death HAS been swallowed up in victory!

Abraham lived out his days, as did Isaac and Jacob after him, in tents. They believed that God would give them the place he had promised. They were looking forward to the city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God.

Sarah considered him faithful who had promised.

Moses endured as seeing him who is invisible.

We know the end of the story. No, He doesn't die. He wins!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV