Triumph over Tragedy

By Dr. C. Clifford Smith III

Triumph over Tragedy is a theological treaties in response to horrific and sudden deaths among Kingdom people. It is intended to address the superficial and often inadequate cultural dialogue that swirls around us when we face death generally, but most of all when we face tragic death. The discussion in the book examines several perspectives on grieving, one being the theological issue that when we view God as the "taker-of-life" more than the "giver-of-life", we run the risk of having a continual difficulty trusting Him to minister compassion and comfort. Yet, it remains one of the greatest tragedies in the minds of Christians today; to speak of God having "taken our love-ones away in death". But isn't the presence and experience of death a part of being human? And isn't the evil in this world part of God's permitted-will and not His perfected-will?

This book is a challenge to the Body of Christ to take another look at questions like these; especially the incidence of sudden death and tragic loss. It provides sound answers based on strict biblical interpretation, and then it raises some other questions that we as believers may have never thought of asking.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512762822

Dr. C. Clifford Smith III

C. Clifford Smith III is a non-denominational Christian Senior Pastor and church planter. He studied at The United Theological College of the West Indies, Kingston Jamaica, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville Kentucky, and at McHari International College, Nassau Bahamas campus. He is a Marriage and Family Life therapist, a Justice of the Peace, a Leadership and Customer Service Training professional, a Life Coach, and a conference host and lecturer. He is the founder and CEO of The Global Leadership Institute. He is a classically trained pianist, song writer and composer. He is married to the lovely Dr. Judy Smith, another of Westbow Press' great writers.

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Copyright © 2016 Dr. C. Clifford Smith III.

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Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6283-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6284-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6282-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016918105

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/9/2016

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 The Possibility of Tragedy

CHAPTER 2 The Power of Eternity

CHAPTER 3 The Purpose of Longevity

CHAPTER 4 The Problem of Evil

CHAPTER 5 Prevailing against Evil

CHAPTER 6 Opportunity, Accountability, Destiny

CHAPTER 7 Triumphing over Tragedy

FOREWORD

As we think about our personal short journeys here on earth, we can almost immediately feel the urgency to begin to make preparations for our transition from this great planet and its confused world. Our transition is inevitable; it is set, appointed, and marked. We will come into the reality someday that our journey and life on earth has come to an end. But our exit from this beautiful planet does not mean it is the end of our assignment, purpose, and lives on the earth because just like plants and animals, we too must become a lesson in the classroom of life and leave our fossils upon the rock. This fossil will write all our experiences and history for the next generation to read and follow.

In this amazing manuscript, Triumph over Tragedy, Dr. C. Clifford Smith III engages the reader to experience the pain of sudden loss but to return to their assignment as they await their call into eternity. The author reminds us that we have a godly responsibility to leave something for the next generation to enjoy and to be thereby comforted according to Psalm 145:4, "One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts" (NASB).

With principles from the greatest book ever written, Dr. Smith 1brings hope to all that will dare to take the challenge of life in the midst of tragedy, uncertainty, and despair. May your life be filled with new life after reading this heavenly manuscript.

Pepe Ramnath, PhD

UN-EO (NGO) Ambassador

Research Scientist and Senior Pastor

INTRODUCTION

The uncertainty and sometimes the brevity of life on this earth have caused many to ponder questions that only eternity, I believe, will be able to answer—questions that begin with why, how, and even when surrounding tragic death, for instance. Very often in tragedy we are faced with unfairness, with inequalities, where those we may consider decent people die horrifically, or young, or unsuspectingly, while seemingly evil people just keep living—in this world at least. And after all of our considering and questioning and pondering, when the waves of grief and shock have passed over us, we are left with the reality and the inevitability of our own mortality.

In the face of tragic death in particular, however, much of our cultural and traditional religious dialogue becomes a serious cause for concern. Systemically, our statements and responses dealing with tragic death do more damage than good to our view of and relationship with God. For instance, when we speak of God as having taken our loved ones away, especially in cases of disease, sudden death, young people, or infants, the image we paint of the divine makes God out to be sadistic, if not sometimes cruel.

Moreover, we go on to culminate most of our commentary with phrases like, Well, what God has done is well done or Well, you know, this was God’s time for him or her to die. But does God really take people away in death, in the personal sense? Does God truly have an actual time set for each one of us to die? The way we answer these queries has serious implications about our beliefs concerning the love of God, life in God, death and dying, tragedy, and opportunity. It has therefore become urgent, now more than ever, for us to address these fundamental issues from a purely detached and objective examination of the scriptures. The longer we wait to resolve these problems, the more inadequate we will become in offering true comfort, therapy, and advice to those facing shock, distress, and bereavement.

In an attempt to get us started on a journey in the proper direction, the main thrusts of this work seek to discuss and substantiate the following points:

1. God is the giver, not the taker of life, although He can take life.

2. God has a stated life expectancy plan for us, rather than a calendared date for our death.

3. Though death has become inevitable for all because of the fall of humanity, longevity has a purpose in God’s will for us.

4. When evil (disaster, disease, or destruction) brings our earthly existence to a sudden and unexpected end, God