Faithful

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I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.  I wanted to weep.  There seemed only a shell left of the man I knew and loved.

But it was a day of celebration.  Resurrection Sunday.  Easter.  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I left a feather soft kiss on his cheek and said words to distract my hurting heart.  "I bet you are enjoying having your family all home."  With effort he acknowledged he was.

Taking a deep breath I headed to my seat as the tears threatened to fall.  It was a beautiful service.  Songs about the Father's great love for us, praises to God for the resurrection, and worship from the body of Christ filled my heart full.

Even as I lifted my voice and offered myself to God, there was a bittersweet ache as the shadow of death lingered near.  There were no more medication options.  Hospice was coming this week.

What brings a dying man to church?  Every move took great effort.  But he was there.  There was no where else he would have wanted to be.  I knew that, but the question lingered.  In the quiet of the morning this Scripture answered.

"...Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sward?  As it is written:  "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:34-39


Christ's love compelled him.  Our long time friend, our elder, our brother in Christ, understood the love of God.  My soul wonders if it wasn't also for our sake that Danny was there at church Sunday... as he's always been... every week.... for as long as I can remember.  He was there to testify to us that this nasty cancer had not and would not separate him from the God he loved.  As God was faithful to him, he would be faithful in return.



Danny was passionate about sharing God's love.  He shared it to the end by his example.

Tuesday morning God took him home.  I had just read Revelation 21-22 in the early morning hours for my devotions.  As I sat and prayed for Danny and his family, all I could whisper up to God through my tears was,

"Come, Lord Jesus."


My heart longed for the promise of Revelation 21:4.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes,  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."


Jesus came for our Danny.  Now I pray I might live the faithful life he left me as an example.

Faithful unto death, knowing our God is faithful for all eternity.

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