This is not meant at all to embarrass anyone or have you searching for who these people could be – they are not to be found on this planet, so don't go looking. The scarey thing is they were loved by God, but no one can truly testify of the condition of their relationship with God before they slipped away because of how quickly they left. I hope as little ones that they Trusted Jesus.
In liberal and conservative Bible believing circles there is a Sunday School default verse that is known by most every child where the Bible is even remotely spoken - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. So many have heard this and will say, “I know that verse!” Knowing a verse has never saved a single soul from the condemnation of sin. No amount of faithless memorization of the words of the Bible ever rescued any man from Hell Fire (Hey HELL is in the Word --- Jesus was pretty straight forward about the subject – The cruel cross of Jesus was the payment for sin and its consequences – God was pretty serious about this matter of Hell).
Satan can quote and twist God's Word to his advantage to sway men to unbelief. Bibles are everywhere in the USA it is amazing, but our nation seems to grow further away from a daily devotional, and love accountable life before the Living God. Are we growing numb or anesthetized because of our willingness to listen to every voice but God's?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. DO WE EVEN BEGIN TO REALIZE THE GRAVENESS OF THE DECISION WITHIN THIS VERSE THAT MEN MUST MAKE IN ORDER TO LEAVE THIS PLANET WITHOUT ETERNAL HELL AS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR THEIR SIN? Maybe this will help ...“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36.
A non-condemning God of love, grace and mercy is awaiting all those who by faith receive His Son whom He loves; But those who will not believe … stand already condemned.
Now back to the Three, if it even matters:
Mark committed suicide 2011.
His sister, Candy, a few years later died because of surgical complications 2005.
His brother, Bud, died a year later in his sleep 2006.
Tony’s first words after remembering who I was in the life of his family (after at least 20 years of MIA - I was still the “pizza preacher”)… “You heard what happened to my siblings?” Like I had??? When he mentioned them by name and how they died … the memory of their faces came back so clear … {I had to get alone and cry. Only Three little ones, no earthly mile markers to discuss except for their mode of leaving the planet.} But before I pulled away from Tony … I had to let Him know that in the midst of these tragedies, God loved Mark, Candy, and Bud … "and as many as received Jesus, they had been given power to be Sons and Daughters of God … even to them that believe on His Name."
I will seek out Tony again, he need not leave this planet without Jesus. Pray for him with me.
Do you care? Pray for those you encounter. Do you care? Speak the truth in love as you have liberty … Share the good news of Jesus everywhere you are, because you never know when One of these little ones will quickly slip away unnoticed.
“How shall they call upon Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14.
HLFA,
Jeff