Monday, December 17, 2012

Eternal Eyes (for Jake)

Bad things happen to good people and it never seems to make much sense.  This is true in many cases because they can only be understood by looking at them with your eyes toward eternity. For in the world's timing and wisdom, this cannot be understood. It's not fair. It's not right. Someone so full of life cannot possibly be taken from us. It is as if we have been startled awake from the dream of a bright future to the reality of today. But I tell you that for all the thoughts and hopes and dreams of what this young soul would have accomplished in this world...God has far greater plans.

We don't know what those plans are as we sit here today. But we can know several things beyond a shadow of a doubt. First, God tells us how he cares for children in Matthew chapter 19: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  So we know that they are safe with God for all eternity. Second, we know that we can see them again.  God promises in the 4th chapter of 1st Thessalonians that we will one day join those that have passed before us and we will have a grand reunion together with them and our Lord. 

But what about today? What do we do with our grief? What do we do about this loss that we feel?  I tell you this pain is for nothing if we do not take action. And what action is that? It must be clear to you that none of us can know the day our life on earth will end. Don't delay any longer.  How great the news will be in heaven today when they hear that, in response to the life that was lost to us, even one person chose HOPE over despair.  

This loss can begin to show its true purpose when even just one person chooses to trust in a plan far greater than our perspective will allow us to see in this brief point within the expanse of eternity. Will you be that one?  Will the angels rejoice in heaven today in your name? 

And if you already have that hope, why keep it a secret?  Why not pay tribute to the lives of those lost and share this life-changing message.  Today's the day! (2Corinthians 6:2)

This young life lost to us is not done having an impact on this world; not nearly. But that continued impact is now up to you. Let's look at life with eyes toward eternity. Let's magnify the life of the one we’ve lost.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16


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