The Race of Faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Another greatly beloved child of God has finished his race this week and is now asleep waiting for the resurrection of the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 we are to run this race of life by living in such a way as to obtain the gift of eternal life. God was ready to take William and so he rests leaving behind a treasured wife who will now live the remainder of her days as if her very life depends on it; for indeed it does. Elaine has her beautiful and cherished memories to cling to while continuing to live out her allotted time, full of hope for the promise of eternal life yet to come.

My husband Jim is first cousin to Elaine. We spent a little time with them in Louisiana after their marriage in 2016. I travelled from Australia to the USA after being invited to attend their wedding. Like us God brought them together around the time of the FOT in 2016 and blessed us all with His full support in our marital union. I think God did this for Elaine and Jim to share in an extra special blessing since both had previously experienced the tragic loss of their respective husband and wife. Both spouses died from cancer. Jim helped look after Elaine’s husband Terry for a time and this deeply strengthened their bond. Nancy Trahan died just 12 days after being admitted to hospital in April of 2013. It was a quick death by comparison leaving Jim paralysed in shock.

Elaine has been such a blessing to Jim since the death of his wife by providing work and a place to live, along with much needed emotional support. Over the last year many prayers have been offered up and said with heartfelt meaning once it was known that William had leukaemia. It will be such a joyous occasion to see William, Terry, and Nancy again, healthy and whole, as it will be for all our loved ones. God speed that day.

Our Brothers and Sisters Need Support

It would be very easy to let time go by without stopping to reflect on the lives of Sabbath keepers who have gone before us. The older we become, time seems to race past more rapidly even though we know there are always 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes for every hour, 24 hours each day for every one of the seven days each week. Therefore it would seem prudent to take this opportunity to reflect on those who are also awaiting their change (1 Corinthians 15:51-56).

I’m sure we can all think of family members or brethren who have died in the recent past. I can think of quite a few brethren who have died in recent memory, but have decided not to name them out of respect for the families’ privacy. There is one friend and brother in Indiana who had a stroke earlier this year and seemed to have vanished off Facebook. We just received news that he is still alive, suffering much back pain, and being cared for in a rehabilitation facility. So we continue to pray. Prayers are our precious gift of time and agape love for those in need.

Our Final Victory!

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we can read Paul’s words regarding the dead in Christ and that they will rise first to meet Christ in the air. Paul encourages us to comfort one another with these words. We will of course still experience deep sorrow over the loss of our beloved but we are not to sorrow as the world sorrows, not knowing if they will live again.

I experienced this sorrow in my teenage years when my mother died. In 1974, on the occasion of her death, I truly believed I would never see my mother again. This was reinforced to me by my father and others who also agreed that there is no life after death. The idiom many would cite to me over the course of my formative years whenever the topic of death would arise was “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may die”. It was tempting to believe this as it gave freedom to do all the fun things that one may desire. Sounded reasonable, but even as a pagan, I could not fully embrace this. I just knew something was missing. It did not make sense to live with family knowing them for such a short time as in the case of my mother, then they were gone, never to be seen again. There was no purpose in that for me.

How about you? Do you have family or friends with whom you very much desire to connect again? I think we all do. Even if relationships were strained or broken, we have a wonderful opportunity after our resurrection to heal these relationships with God’s full endorsement.

Many years later as an adult after being called by God, I came to realise these very words — “eat and drink, for tomorrow you may die” are actually written in our Bibles. But instead of instructing His people to indeed eat, drink and be merry, it was most interesting to read that God admonishes Israel in Isaiah 22:13 of this very thing! Conversely, we are to make our lives full of meaning and purpose to serve God and others to the very best of our abilities, using our talents which are God given.

Supporting Others in Times of Grief and Illness

Many are suffering. Some at home, some in hospital, others in convalescent homes or rehabilitation facilities. As we age, funds may become limited through retirement or reduction in employment opportunities. We may not be able to afford travel overseas or even cope with the journey due to health limitations. We pray for those afflicted with health trials. We can keep in contact through the telephone, emails, snail mail, Facebook, Messenger, or whatever electronic means we have. Those geographically close to brethren have choices to make. They can provide lovely home cooked meals, visits, babysitting, offers of help to clean, wash clothing, practical offers to do any number of things that may be needed to assist to lighten the load.

Facebook has been most useful to read the daily updates on the progress of David John Fischer or DJ to some, the husband of Cassie, son of Dennis and Annie Fischer from Billings, Montana, USA. This young man was hit and run over on his way home from work recently. He is in the prime of his life at 33 years of age, recently married, such a loving husband, and supporting son to his parents. Reading all the wonderful ways brethren, family, friends and neighbours are supporting this family just fills my heart causing it to leap for joy. Imagine how our Father feels seeing us praying and helping each other in our time of need, grief, loss, trial. It would be very beautiful and pleasing (Matthew 2:34-40). This is what defines His children. The love we have, one for another (John 13:35).

At the end of the day we can all help no matter our age or condition. Let us stir up this God given Agape love via His Spirit and fully engage where we can. We simply do not know how long any one of us has in our physical bodies. Make each and every day count. On a challenging day pray. Keep praying. Never give up. Send a card to those on the prayer list. Make a card if you cannot afford to buy cards and you have the artistic ability. Words are what counts. Use the Psalms and scripture to comfort. It is truly amazing how God works while we are providing outgoing love to others, He will bless us in ways we do not expect. Very humbling.

We most definitely all desire to say the words found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing”. Imagine hearing the words from Jesus Christ “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:21). Matthew 25:34-40 nicely encapsulates what our lives are to be about — our Father’s business.