Matthew 14:27-28—Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.”
Yesterday I spent the entire afternoon over at two of my friends parent’s house. Their dad, Doug, has been battling cancer for around two years now. After searching scripture for reasons to stop treatment, he ran across Psalm 139:16 – “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed”. He stopped taking chemo treatments in the middle of 2008. Most of us know that cancer treatment is exhausting and basically makes you feel awful 24 hours a day. Doug decided that he would rather spend his last few months feeling alive and with his family.
Yesterday while at their home, I saw a wonderful picture of what our faith and trust in God is suppose to look like. My friends were about to lose their dad. Yet, we were all standing around and it was actually an encouraging atmosphere. People were smiling and reminiscing about Doug’s life and the joy that he brought to so many others lives. Some were talking about the struggle he has gone through and how it has been a long and tiring road.
But the main thing they were all talking about was the peace they all had. Are my friends going to miss their dad? Yes. Is Jeanie going to miss her husband? Yes. But how could they sit there and smile and laugh?
It is because they know, and I mean they KNOW, that they are going to see their dad again. It may just be a few weeks or it may be years and years, but all of them are going to see him again in Heaven. The peace that was in that house surrounded me, and I truly felt God’s presence lingering around all of us. There were times when there were breakdowns and tears and hugs, but for the most part it was a celebration. Obviously I don’t mean a celebration of Doug’s passing, but a celebration of his new life that is about to begin. He is getting ready to go be with Christ in Heaven, to begin a new eternal life with our Savior.
My main memory that I have of Doug took place a couple of years ago when I was somewhere around the age of 18. At that time Curtis, Clif, and I were pretty much together and hanging out every night. Well at that time, and I hate to admit this, but I loved rap music. I thought I was the next Eminem. But anyways….I had let Curtis borrow a 2Pac CD. Doug had gone out to Curtis’ car for something and found it. He confronted Curtis about where he had gotten it and of course Curtis had to tell him the truth.
Next thing you know Doug comes up to me at church and said he needed to talk to me. He pulled me off to the side and basically chewed me out over the CD and could not believe that I was listening to that crap, and even more that I would let Curtis listen to it. At the time I thought, “Who is he to call me out on something like that? Why does he care what music I listen to?” Some might think that it was his business because I was letting Curtis listen to it, but honestly I don’t believe that was the message he was trying to send to me. It was a challenge. He was challenging me to be better than that. He knew that I was listening to that crap and it was going to reflect in my life, which at the time, it was. I look back at that time now, and think, “What a waste”.
But that is truly what Doug’s life was about. It was about setting an example for many to follow. For anyone who doesn’t know Doug. He was a loving dad and husband. He was a Sunday School teacher. He devoted the majority of his life to Scotland, and a group over there, ministering in a very dark place. But most of all he was a believer in Christ. And that is why yesterday, today, tomorrow, the next few weeks and years, we can all celebrate that Doug is going to be spending an eternity in Heaven. That we will all have an opportunity to see him again. I will be able to sit down and have a good talk about music with him. We will be able to worship in God’s holy presence, in God’s holy place together, as one. We will see him again just as we will see Christ again. Doug’s life was an example, an example that should be followed.
Be an example.
Psalm 18:1-6—“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.”
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