Dick Bennett / Pastor of Young at Heart and Caring Network
Our
hearts are broken over situations like Ben, Landon, Jordan, Julian, Enzio,
Tapashi, Lauren, Elise, and Alyssa, to
name a few. These are the most recent names of children who have fought or are
fighting debilitating illnesses that appear on our weekly prayer sheets or
e-mail requests. They represent cancer, a heart transplant, a kidney
transplant, and other diseases. How we wish we had the answers for all of those
families that would satisfy their doubts and confirm their faith in the midst
of the trials, but we don’t. We try to avoid the clichés that are so inadequate
and even inappropriate for the circumstances. We mean well, but we don’t know
how to express our empathy in the proper way. We want to give a note of
encouragement or hope, somehow to lift their spirits, but it all seems to fall
short.
Kirk Cameron has tried to address some of those questions in a film, dedicated to a young boy he personally knew who died of cancer, called “Unstoppable.” In the film he depicts God’s plan from creation, to the fall of man, and then to his ultimate redemption through Christ to the glorified state. He does use some graphic steps to get us there, but the point is, God’s Eternal Plan is Unstoppable, no matter how much of it we don’t understand, or question, or even dislike. It is also a Reliable plan, coming from the heart of the one true and everlasting God, Jehovah Himself, holy, righteous, loving, merciful, and just. The scriptures are replete with these attributes of God, in the midst of a fallen and sin cursed world, and they apply to every circumstance of life, good or bad, easy or hard, joyful or crushing, just or unjust, and yes, life or death. I cannot comprehend God’s grace, but I’ve seen it work, over and over again, and it has played out in my own life far beyond anything I could ever have dreamed or deserved.
Kirk Cameron has tried to address some of those questions in a film, dedicated to a young boy he personally knew who died of cancer, called “Unstoppable.” In the film he depicts God’s plan from creation, to the fall of man, and then to his ultimate redemption through Christ to the glorified state. He does use some graphic steps to get us there, but the point is, God’s Eternal Plan is Unstoppable, no matter how much of it we don’t understand, or question, or even dislike. It is also a Reliable plan, coming from the heart of the one true and everlasting God, Jehovah Himself, holy, righteous, loving, merciful, and just. The scriptures are replete with these attributes of God, in the midst of a fallen and sin cursed world, and they apply to every circumstance of life, good or bad, easy or hard, joyful or crushing, just or unjust, and yes, life or death. I cannot comprehend God’s grace, but I’ve seen it work, over and over again, and it has played out in my own life far beyond anything I could ever have dreamed or deserved.
We
empathize with those going through deep waters, especially where their children
are involved, but we rest in the hope that God knows, and that He cares so much
that he tasted death himself for us on a cruel cross. This is E-ternal truth, confirmed by a N-ew heart, through God’s G-race. It’s A-uthentic, and we can G-row in that grace until we are
fully E-quipped and prepared
for heaven. Will you ENGAGE yourself to the bridegroom today, His name is
Jesus.