Waiting desperately
Today we would make some quick phone calls, but the only thing Martha and Mary could do was sending a short, ‘telegram style’ message to their friend and Master. It was a message that would surely cause Jesus to get up right away and travel back to Bethany as soon as he could: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” But instead Jesus stayed two more days and only send an encouraging reply with a mysterious promise. Read more here
Posts
.jpg)
4 comments:
Here is an awful thing: my nine-year-old nephew's best friend Tyler dropped dead yesterday. He was in hospital because of an infection from a seemingly successful heart operation last year. He was sitting in bed playing cards with his dad and simply closed his eyes and was gone.
Tyler was raised in a believing family, he was a happy, sunny little boy, and I am sure that his parents intellectually realize he is with Jesus, but words can't describe the shock and loss felt in my hometown right now.
My mother had called me to put him on our prayer chain when he was first hospitalized, but his situation seemed to be well in hand, and I was in overload, and I put it off (or simply didn't do it).
If I believe prayer (sending a message to my Lord as Martha and Mary did) is effective, then didn't I let Tyler down by not praying for him? God didn't take Tyler because I didn't pray, I understand that. But I feel that on some deep level I failed in my responsibility.
It's a good reminder to cling to our loved ones because we simply never know when they will be taken from us.
That is a sad story, Carol. I really feel sorry for his parents / siblings and friends. But I trust Tyler is in the Shepherd's arms - the best place to be.
Lazarus was the exception. Jesus told exactly why he was going to bring him back to life. We will all die one day, sooner or later. From our perspective we just don't get it, but from God's perspective it must be so different. We just have to trust his timing - even if it is hard (impossible) for us to understand. My prayers are with the boy's loved ones and with you. If you feel that you failed in your responsibility, you have to realize that this is the normal reaction to such a tragic event. We just can't explain or accept what has happenend and the first human reaction is to think that in a mysterious way we are to blame for it. Tyler is with God now - that was not what we wanted, but what the Father - in his eternal wisdom - decided was best. Now all attention must be focused on the parents, brothers, sisters, other relatives and friends. There must be time for sadness and mourning, but one day you will cherish the good memories and thank God for the brief time you all had with this beautiful young boy.
We had such a tragedy in our church recently. A 17 year old boy died in his sleep, also with heart failure. His parents were devastated of course, but they did give a beautiful testimony in our church magazine, reminding us of the loving Father who is welcoming his son back Home with open arms.
Paul, thanks for both your thoughtful and comforting comments. In the light of day, we are able to see how Tyler avoided a great deal of suffering by going home to Jesus.
When my sister and brother died, I was tormented by the question of where they were going, whether they felt pain in their coffins, and how that childhood song, "the worms crawl in/the worms crawl out," actually worked. I hope his siblings and my nephew are spared at least some of this worry by their understanding of eternal life.
Again, thanks.
This is the verse which stuck with me from Tyler's funeral today:
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Rev. 7:13-17.
Post a Comment