My family and I are going through the ringer today. It all started yesterday when our Papa G was driving to a meeting in Battle Creek for a job that has been very hard on he and Evonne. Someone was driving the opposite direction and crossed the center line, striking the truck my only father in law was in. We don't know much more than that right now, but ripples of grief have echoed through each phone call as one by one everyone needed to know. I feel as though God stopped watching over Rick for a brief moment. It seems that those promises to never leave and never forsake are not real anymore. There is a terrible gnawing at my soul to question what He said in His Word. Did He really stop watching? How could He have a lapse of judgment? Elijah says our God doesn't get tired or take a break. Where was He? Did He leave? Does He think about all the kids and grandkids who needed their dad? Did God forget?
No He didn't.
So people who trust in Him have had their beloved Papa ripped away. We didn't get a warning. We had no last thoughtful conversation. 9 grandchildren only have one grandpa now. Didn't God know that we were on his side? Didn't He know that we have stood with Him and His Word, and that He should protect us knowing that we were with Him? Does reading the Bible, praying, and going to church matter at all? Did God forget to see that we have been faithful to Him?
No He didn't.
So, a life is over, and nothing can be undone. There is finality to this unexpected event. No one can do anything about it. Death strikes everyone, but we weren't ready. Papa G's body is coming to Paw Paw today, and we will cry more, and bury his body. It's so surreal, and yet we know He didn't come home last night, so it must be true. Did God give Him one last chance to talk to us? Did He get more time to set things in order? Did Papa G just leave us forever?
No he didn't.
You see, our great heavenly Father has arranged for a grand meeting again. All of his saints will attend, and Papa G will be there. We will be there, and will all worship the one true King -the King of Kings. He doesn't grow tired or weary. He says the rain falls on the just and unjust all the same. We are in the world, but we aren't of the world. We shouldn't sorrow as those who have no hope. We are not hopeless, and neither is Papa G. He trusted his life to the one who can save the soul for eternity, and God himself made good on that promise yesterday. How strange that through death, a promise is fulfilled. This isn't the first time.
The last time I wrote was at the conclusion to our trip out west where we saw God in the hills, the trees, the land, and in all creation. He was here, I said, He was there, and over there, I saw him in the mountains, in the rivers, and sunsets. This day is not different than that. He is here. He is here in all of you who say things to us. He is here in all the people who show up for comfort. He is here in His Word perhaps more than before. He is here in Spirit. In the death of a man, He shows Himself strong. This is the God we need, and He is the one who manifests Himself to those who call on Him. We need Him today, and we still stand by Him in His choices. There is nothing He will do to cause the faith of his people to cease. Let today be the memorial of this.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called, he also justified, and those whom he justified, he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:28-39
Did God forget about my Rick and my family?
No, He didn't.
