Do you see the big picture of the God Story all through the Bible? God loved man so much that He foresaw "The Fall" that would condemn man, and became Salvation for him so that man could be totally restored to God in an Eternal Love Relationship through Jesus Christ. And though mankind since the Fall is born into the same sinful curse, through the Message of the Good News of Jesus' rescue, mankind can be redeemed by the reception of that message, by receiving Jesus.
Example: The context of Galatians 6:7-9 is restoration(not just God is gonna get you, but what you do for others is tantamount!) ...think it through. The will of God is the restoration of Mankind to himself through Jesus Christ. He has gifted this ministry to us also and empowers us through His Holy Spirit enabling us to reach, teach, rescue, and restore. This is all done within the strategic sphere of influence where He places us ... We are placed among a chosen people, in a particular place and with a gifted passion...Where God puts you to play, work, shop, walk, live, etc. ... is a God thing. Don't sell your God assignment short. Pity on you if you see God's assignment as "just a job" or just a "secular" job... Wow limit and handicap your scope of eternal usefulness!
LET ME INTERRUPT THE LESSON ABOVE WITH THE FOLLOWING ACHE OF LIFE:
Another inner world, shaken enough to be at odds against the stream of temporal life around it. Word's like "Non-responsive" , "critical", "stable" and "D.O.A." were being floated in the air like misshapen helium balloons, while experts with opinions of confusion kept anyone attached to the moment lost in the rhetoric. Once again truth seems to have fallen in the streets and hope was so deferred and had stooped so low it was hunchback. Faith was viewed as an alien or a specter of denial instead of a breath of true encouragement. Still all was well in His hands, all are cared for in His desire no matter what perspective could be hurled into the situation from fallen men.
Catastrophes that destroy the body of men from the inside out, and the devastating violence brought on in a split second crushing the shell, do not paint the "truth" picture of God's delivering love. Speculation of God's anger and judgment just fuel excuses for distance and separation between God and man, and these verbally abusive declarations rarely have eternal substance or connection, but they can scar and injure the faith of a suffering Saint.
Psalm 46 (from the vantage of the suffering non-responsive one or the one caught in a split second passing from darkness into eternal light): The sound of beeping and buzzing life support machines had faded in the distance; the agonizing pain is an ever fading distant memory, and the horrendous sound of the crushing of glass, plastic, metal and human flesh was now silenced in the Fog (the Favor of God) ... The declaration has rung true... though the present world is shaking, pulling and tugging not wanting to lose the struggle, fighting to not let go of the victim that appears to have lost the victory - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1
Standing on the eternal shore, released from the bondage of the flesh ... And now sensing the strong sustaining currents of His eternal home ... The battered soul stands sure and protected: "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." Psalm 46:2,3
The roaring, the prayers, and the tears were like a diminishing choir behind a slowly closing curtain as the scene ahead became clearer ... God was there! ..."There is a a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." Crossing the stream of gladness ... crossing from the darkness and pain into the Everlasting Home..."God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her and that right early." Psalm 46:4,5.
There was but a moment to pause to understand Mercy and Grace - "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted." All of Heaven's Family shouted in celebration of another pilgrim's arrival: "The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."
We who are alive and remain cannot even begin to fathom the amazing things that God has prepared for those that wait on Him, those who actively love Him in anticipation of seeing Him face to face, who now stand before Him and are brought into His Everlasting Arms ... For We, who are left behind, stand at the wailing wall of an event of suffering and separation... We truly cannot see much beyond our grief.
Grieve, but not as the heathen who rage with blame against God when a catastrophe strikes:"Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breakers the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire." Psalm 46:8,9 --- The battle of the Soul will end in Him.
But O Soul in Christ, left alone on this side of the Veil - Grieve righteously by beholding the truth ... You will miss the loved one that has been taken ... But remember, this incident was not a tragedy, it was a rescue. Do not pretend that you need not grieve ... To not grieve is to deny God the opportunity to comfort us, and then the beauty of that outpouring of comfort ... being there to comfort others with the comfort that we have been comforted with."Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." Psalm 46:10, 11
Both Manny and Danny found the fading moment of suffering, both found the stream of gladness, both found the Arms of God, both are now Home forever... we are left to the comforts of His Spirit. Be comforted!
God's peace be with you who are broken... Know this, you have not been abandoned ...You are strategically placed in this world with the power of His Spirit filling your shattered spirit and empowering your broken and contrite heart to live fully alive for the King!
Grieve as you must...but let Jesus comfort you... And live.
HLFA,
Jeff
Dedicated to Pastor Manny Diaz in the presence of the King... April 3, 2017; and (D.J.) "Hoagie" Daniel Hogan, Jr. - in the presence of his Savior March 24, 2017.