Goodbye Friend

Today is a sad day, as family and friends begin to mourn the passing of a good friend. The first question that will come to many people’s mind is, “God, Why?” After finding him so quickly, why? After the helicopter pilot, who knew him, beat the storm to get him to the hospital, why? After such a good day on Tuesday, why? After so much life left in him, to love, to minister, to give sacrificially of himself, why? And the question lingers unanswered. 

After Mary and Martha asked Jesus the same question, at the passing of their brother Lazarus, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” The question isn’t why, but do you believe?

The only remedy for sorrow is hope. The Apostle Paul said, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” So, in Christ we have hope.

Dan will always be, “remember[ed] before our God and Father [his] work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” He loved others because he loved Jesus. The last time I spoke with Dan, I said I wanted to get a 1971 MG sports car. He said, “whatever makes you happy.” I replied, “Rebecca makes me happy.” Through shallow breathes he said, “yeah, Marty makes me happy too.” Jesus and Marty are his two greatest loves. 

What about you? What are your two greatest loves? Who is your first love? Do not let this moment pass you by, for today is the day of salvation. The scriptures says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It also says, “if you confess with your mouth, and believe in heart, that Jesus was raised from the dead, you will be saved.” In yet another place, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

Today is a defining moment for Dan, as he was ushered into the presence of Jesus. Today is a defining moment for the family as they mourn his passing. Today is a defining moment for his friends, who will miss him greatly. Most of all, it is a defining moment for you who are not followers of Jesus. 

Do you believe? Dan’s just saying...