Sadness... and Joy
A good friend went to be with the Lord on yesterday morning... Paul Guy was a great person, and a model believer. He was one of the most consistent and steady men I've known in my life... always seeking to please Jesus.
This was hard, because it happened so suddenly... he came down with double-pneumonia, and things took a turn for the worse... within a few short weeks, he was gone. The news of Paul's death was really hard for my middle son, Shawn... even though he hadn't seen Paul in a couple of years. But Paul had been Shawn's Children Church teacher at our old church, and Shawn really grew to love him.
(Please pray for Paul's family: he leaves behind a wife, Paulette, and three kids: his daughter is a senior in high school, and he has 2 college-aged sons)
Death is never easy to deal with... it seems so... final. But the Scriptures make clear that "when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house i heave, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." For the believer, "home" is finally being with Jesus forever... not that we have to be in a rush to get there (truthfully, none of us really want to die)... but we're confident that - when that time comes - we move from this life... to more life: we will live forever, and have a new body, made by God. So, although I'm sad, I can rejoice because my man Paul no longer has to deal with the pain and suffering of the past few weeks... he has a new body, made by God. His new body will never tire or break down, because it's not a human body... it's made by God.
(If you struggle with a fear of death or dying... or you know someone who does... click here to see a very helpful video by Dr. Henry Cloud)
Paul... you've done well in this life. I look forward to seeing you again in the next one, my friend.
"So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him" (2 Corinthians 5:9).
3 comments:
Darren, Thank you so much for sharing this. I lost my grandfather in March. Not just and ordinary grandpa but he and my grandma did alot of the raising. I was able to go and spend the last day with him. He was not expected to pass but God is so good to give me the blessing of seeing him before he went home. I have been having such a hard time with death. Not my own death but the death of others. My mind is infiltrated with thoughts of losing Jim or the kids or my grandma. I also lost my brother to suicide 4 years ago. This is a tough one for me because we had so much fun together when we were growing up. He was lost and this breaks my heart. I am so glad you shared this cause I don't think I have really dealt with losing my grandpa or Michael. I needed to see this video today. Thanks for this blessing today!
You're very welcome... glad this could minister to you and be a blessing in this way to you. This is the THIRD death of a friend on mine in the last year... all fairly young... and EACH ONE unexpected. It just never gets easier.
Yet, the truth of Scripture is that God is a God of all comfort, and believers don't (or, at least, shouldn't) grieve as those who have no hope. We have an eternal home waiting for us. Of course, this isn't much help when we lose a love one who wasn't a Christ-follower... At those times, all we can do is trust in the wisdom and righteousness of God, that - in His wisdom - He saw fit to not give the person more time to repent. His ways are perfect and just... even when we don't understand.
Thanks so much for sharing your heart! :-)
Thanks Darren. I needed to hear this tonight!
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