A Time to Mourn

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

  He has made every thing beautiful in his time:"   Ecclesiastes:3:1-8, 11a

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, it is written:

“There is a time for everything, and a Season for every activity under Heaven."(1)

“a time to be born a time to die.”(2)

A Time to Weep and Mourn

 “There is time to weep and a Time to laugh, a time to Mourn and a time to dance”(4)

For those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one this brings drastic changes in our lives, and for we who are left among the living it is   our time to weep and mourn. And it is justified. It is right and proper for us to mourn the passing, the death of a family member, friend & to grieve our collective and   personal loss. Do not deny yourself this right to grief.

 These times of Weeping and Mourning are God ordained times or seasons that as hard as they might be, these times teach us things we could never learn otherwise. Above all they should speak to us of our need for Jesus Christ.

Over the years I have seen and heard some advising mourning friends or relatives that to show grief or loss was somehow a lack of faith in God. I have seen them almost revel in the opportunities to  lecture and  sermonize grieving people. This is not proper.

Those That Mourn

Jesus himself address those who for a variety of reasons might find themselves in a state of mourning. We are told in the beatitudes by Jesus Christ.

“Blessed are those who mourn, they will be comforted”Matthew:5:4

 The Mourning proceeds the comforting, and, that is will give way to it comfort.

 When we go through the mourning process we can come to healing peace and comforting. We need to face it; we cannot pretend that nothing has changed when we have a loss. Something has changed, we will not see that person again this side of eternity, which means a part of us has died as well.  There may be alterations that will need to take place.  Our whole routine is gone there can be a feeling of being overwhelmed , emotions long submerged find expression, we can hear ourselves say and do things that we would never of thought possible. Our emotions can become pendulum like.  There is a vacancy within our lives. We might feel that none understand that no one cares.

Jesus Christ

Jesus understands our loss. He went though the times and seasons of life just as we all do. He understand when we mourn and pass through grief. Jesus experienced it himself or looked upon the grief of those around Him with decrement.

“ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”  Isaiah: 53:3

 It is all right that we mourn, but we do not have to enter into a state of Morbid Nostalgia that can paralyze us from living in the face of our loss. Instead of living a grieving person can pine away for their loss and never move beyond it to the comfort that can be theirs.

God’s Provision

We all can be comforted by the truth that God has made adequate provisions to

 reunite us again through the resurrection of the Dead with those who have pass away before us. We need not be unduly fearful and focused on our loss.

 A little over 2000 years ago God entered this world through His Son Jesus Christ and  Shared our humanity. Perfect Deity, & Sinless Humanity, Fully God Fully humanity. He lived as one of us & died for all of us that we might have eternal life.

 “This is eternal that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” John: 17:3

  

Jesus’ death on the cross shows us just how far God would go to have us that we might be included in this eternal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  God Loves us more than He loves Himself, the cross shows us how far God was willing to go that we each, any who will but freely receive it, might have eternal life. He would go even to the point of death for us, the same death that humanity faces; He did not exempt His own Son Jesus.

Jesus died was buried, and then was raised from the dead.  The empty tomb shows us that not even death could hold Him. That if God raised Jesus, He can and will raise those who trust in Him. He has power over even death

Many who have passed on before us have believed this, and if we could hear their voices speak, they would encourage us all to hold on to this hope, this hope is what made them who they were.

I AM  the Resurrection

When Jesus’ friend Lazrus died and was buried and they all mourned his passing. When Jesus came to the town Bethany where they lived. One of Lazrus’ sisters Martha had a conversation with our Lord.

“Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near to Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatever you will ask of God, God will give it you. Jesus said to her, Your brother shall rise again. Martha said to him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? She said to him, Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John: 11:17-27

  

Jesus said “I am the resurrection” & the life. He who believes in men will Live, even though he dies” John: 11:25

 Jesus speaks of the Resurrection as it being Who He is, not just an event but Who He is. Jesus tells her and us all, even before His own resurrection occurs;  that means His resurrection only demonstrates what is and  has eternal been true.

We often think of resurrection as just being over death, but it shows us that Jesus can bring hope and life to any situation even when it appears there is no hope at all. There is always hope because Jesus lives.

Victory Over Death

Paul tells us that Jesus’ resurrection is that victory over death that we all can share in and verifies that eternal life is ours . Paul wrote of this to the Christians at Corinth. He speaks of the death all humanity will face, the death our Lord shared with and for us, and Paul yet encourages us that the grave is not the end but glory awaits those who have received Jesus beyond the confines of this life.

This is found in the Epistle of 1Corithians:15:12-58, There is a resurrection; Christ’s resurrection is evidence that those who have died are not gone forever.

The Shadow of Death

Yet death is the great common experience of humanity and so being, Jesus faced it for and with us . Death looms so final & imposing, it conjures fear at its prospects. But we do not have to fear  even death.

Psalm 23

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” Psalm: 23:4a

We read these poetic yet powerful words as being our own deaths, yet there are times when the shadow of the deaths of others is cast upon us,  and we must walk in its’ shroud  for a season. But we need not be afraid. Do not be afraid is the most often repeated admonition in all of Scripture.

“I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staffs comfort me”(4b)

Our Lord is with you,  and any of us, Jesus the true great Shepherd has defeated even death for us there for if today you are walking in deaths’ shadow you need not fear for what lies beyond is great joy in His presence. 

In ancient Israel the flocks would be led through the deep valleys and narrow mountainous pass ways that at times could be shadowed even in the midst of day , it was  the last place the sheep had to pass to get home,  but the Shepherd would not take flock where He had not been himself gone,  that tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ knows the way He has passed through the valley of the shadow of death Himself. He knows the way; He knows how to get us home.

“for I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”(6b)

 Through Faith in Him, we to can experience that same victory, many have through faith in Jesus shared in this Victory.

Those who have passed away will live unfettered by the limitation and infirmities of the flesh, will live in Eternity, life undiminished, life unending with the Lord and Savior.  

There are different views and opinions concerning the afterlife, even among Christians. .  I am not here to debate the theological merits of those views, but rather to tell you that the afterlife promised in the Holy Scriptures of the Bible is reality, that God, through Jesus Christ alone by grace, is extending to us who will but freely receive it.

 That God, in His providence and timing, makes available to all humanity salvation. Many before us have believed this, believed and Loved Jesus Christ. That belief gave them real hope for tomorrow for themselves and their families, and they would encourage each of us to embrace this same hope in Jesus Christ and cling to it, to live by it and through it.

It is all right for us to mourn our loss, here and now, but be encouraged by the truth and take comfort that you will see your loved one again. Living for ever in the Presence of the God and Savoir who loved us and gave us His Son Jesus Christ that we might live.  

Recall the words  “He makes all things beautiful in its time” Ecclesiastes: 3: 11a

Even our seasons of mourning and grief.

“Blessed are those who mourn they will be comforted”. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Pinnacle of the Temple

"And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence:"  Luke:4:9

We are told that Jesus had been led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and there was tempted by Satan himself. It is important to understand that Jesus did not become the Messiah  by defeating Satan but rather demonstrated that He and He alone  is the Messiah by defeating Satan. Jesus only showed what is and eternally  has been true that He is the Son of God.

One, and the last of the Temptation recorded  that our Lord Jesus Christ faced is found in the Gospel of the Physician Luke, who took great care in assembling of his account of the life of Jesus.

The  Pinnacle 

Jesus, we find in Luke's' account is taken by Satan to a high place called the Pinnacle which is at the very Temple of God, the center of the "religious" life of Israel and what was intended to be the focal point of Israels' relationship with their God.The Pinnacle referred to in the Gospel account is thought to be the south west corner of the Temple complex and may have been the location where the shofar (rams horn) was blown to call people to worship on the weekly sabbath and holy days.This spot overlooked the Kindron Valley outside the wall of the city and would have been a fall of three hundred feet or more.

"And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence:" Luke:4:9

Why would satan attempt to goad Jesus into a leap from such a place what  might really  have been  his motive? It is important to remember that the Temple was meant to be the center of the relationship between God and Israel all that took place there was  looking forward to the Messiah, that Jesus who now stood perched on high. This place would have provided a grand audience for Jesus to demonstrate His place as the long awaited Messiah it would have been a spectacle.He is attempting to deceive Jesus into thinking that salvation can be given without sacrifice.

 " If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence: 

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you:

And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.

And Jesus answering said to him, It is said, You will not tempt the Lord your God. 

" Luke:4:9b-12

  
This  would have provided visual evidence of Jesus Messianic credentials, but by doing so Jesus would have lost the very freedom that He came to bring to us all. Satan would have accomplished this  by using the Temple of God itself and a misquote  of  Scripture to get Jesus to prove Himself. As well Satan is attempting to use the these tactics to impose  a religion on Jesus,  a religion where Jesus would not have to die, the cross would have been avoided,  Jesus could fly rather than die.

 "And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone" (11)


 There would be no ransom for humanity, there would be no sacrifice, no atonement, no forgiveness, there would just be  religion all provided by the Son of God. This is just the opposite of why Jesus came, Jesus came to set free not enslave. Jesus was showing that true freedom is found in a relationship with God through Him alone, not through religion.

Do Not Tempt

Jesus of course saw  the motivation behind Satan temptation and brings forward the word of God to counter Satan and demonstrate all the more His place as the Son of God our Messiah Who would fulfill the very will of God even if that meant His death. The Cross declares for all time and eternity that Jesus would rather die than to be out side of the will of God.

"And Jesus answering said to him, It is said, You will not tempt the Lord your God" Luke:4:12


Jesus quotes the Word of God not just to protect Himself but to reenforce again His ever abiding in the will of His Father.

Not Just a Vantage Point

The Temptation at  the Pinnacle of the Temple was not just a vantage point it was designed to offer humanity a religious spectacle but was to bring enslavement by the One Who had come to truly set them free.

This battle of religious enslavement over the human soul characterizes all the narrative of the New Testament and all of human history even from the very beginning. Where ever the name of Jesus is preached that same religious spirit that filled the religious leaders of the day will lash out at the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus always attempting to add something to the simple grace that our Lord has offered to any and all who will but freely receive it. Jesus came to set us free from such enslavement.

This is why Paul writing to the Church throughout the ages tell each and all .

Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage of religion but true freedom in a loving relationship.

"Behold, I Paul say to you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love" Galatians:5:2-6

In Jesus we find true freedom all through His Love and Grace....this is the true Pinnacle  that our Lord stands upon..Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Children Are Free

" And when Peter was come into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying, What Do you think , Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter said to him, Of strangers. Jesus said to him, Then the children are free."Matthew:17:25-26

 Timing

The Parables of our Lord Jesus Christ are generally regarded as having three classifications, Kingdom Parables ,Grace Parables and Judgment Parables. Of the Grace Parables, the first we encounter is in the seventeenth chapter of Matthew.
This rather is an acted out parable, more than Jesus using words to articulate a point. The Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to place this account in the same chapter as the Transfiguration, Healing and Jesus giving the Second prediction of His death. It occurs in the Fishing community of  Capernaum in Galilee.

There are some Biblical Scholars who question the timing of the events as to when this occurrences takes place within Jesus' ministry. There are some who believe that this takes place at the onset of the ministry of our Lord but is placed here in the narrative to emphasis the work of the Cross that Jesus give a prediction of within the same chapter.
This may be in the same way that John places the clearing of the money changers out of the Temple early in his account to reflect Jesus' mission of restoring a right relationship between God and humanity and Jesus' intention of doing away with the "overly religious  system" which became bloated with greed and self righteousness  in the hands of the Religious Leaders, but  the other Gospels accounts  place it after the events of Palm Sunday  just before the Crucifixion.

Temple Tax

After Jesus and His Disciples arrive at  Capernaum, Peter is asked by some if Jesus pays the two Dracham Temple Tax. This tax which was two Dracham , and was intended to be used for the upkeep of the Temple and the livelihood of the Priest who ministered there was, it amounted to two days wages.

"And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tax money came to Peter, and said, Does not your master the tax? He said, Yes" Matthew:17:24-25a

Peters' answer if translated literally would simply be "yes" or maybe better translated "of course".

After Peters' conversation with the Tax Collectors , he is then asked by Jesus his thoughts  regarding who Kings bring taxation upon

"And when Peter was come into the house, Jesus stopped him, saying, What do you  think , Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?" Mathew:17:25b

Peter answers    "Peter said to Jesus, "Of strangers." (26a)

Jesus answer  " Jesus said to Peter, Then  the  children are free."(26b)

But after this Jesus instructs Peter to pay the tax on their behalf  buy catching a fish and fin ding the need amount within its mouth.

 "Jesus said to him.“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (27)

 Not a Taxing Question

There are some who see this as Jesus endorsement  a civil governments right to taxation  on its citizen, while there might be a broad application to that , but that is not the real point. Most  know the words of Jesus when asked about taxation in a conversation with the religious leaders.After asking to be shown a coin Jesus declared.

"And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" .Mark:12:17

Taxation is not the point. In that day the Drachma ,that is the coinage used to pay the Temple tax,  came to be used synonymously for the religious  system that it maintained, when people used the term drachma they meant is as the whole system, it spoke of involvement and participation in short it represented "religion".

Free of Religion

Looking back to Jesus' and Peters' conversation,  using the question as to who kings tax,  strangers or their children? , Peter answer correctly  that strangers are taxed, and Jesus declarers the "Children are free".

Recall that the question which began the acted out parable was regarding the drachma, which maintained the "system of religion"  , Jesus only tells Peter to pay the tax to avoid "offense" not to fulfill an obligation. What is Jesus telling us the children are free from? He is saying the children are free of the tax, the tax in question is the drachma tax which maintain the "system of religion" , the drachma being representative of  "religion" itself.

This is what Jesus is declaring that the children are free from. Free from drachma. Free from Religion.

Children Are Free

The Greek word that the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to use here for Children is "Huion", it is the same word used to describe Jesus as being the Son or child of God. Here the word "Huion"  is found to be in its plural form, by using its plural Jesus is bring forward the idea of being in association with Himself, He Who is truly God's uniquely born Son. This speaks to us that when we come to believe  in Jesus , that is, we enter the sonship that He alone truly possess, and when we do,  we are then free Children. We are now under grace.The Children are free. Using Children, "Huion", we are being told that we now have a relationship with the Father of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus we are told in the Gospel of John had come to give us the power or right to be come sons or Children of God.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John:1:12-13

Religion

The Old Covenant given by God and enjoined with Israel  was intended to direct Israel, and any, to their need for the Savior. However , it  became in the hands of the religious establishment a burden to the people. They had added additions to the "Law" ,  and yet,  found ways around it for their own  profit or convenience. They made it a hard yoke of performance, which most "religions" are. This is what the drachma came to symbolize, this the "Tax"  the Children are free from.   None can live up the perfect standard perfectly but for Jesus alone. He alone is with out sin. Hebrews:4:15

Freedom

The Apostle Paul ,himself,  some years latter advances this idea of being Children and the freedom which we are called to. Paul writing's to the Christians at Galatia in Asia Minor, a part of Modern day Turkey. Paul address this freedom due to certain teachers who had come attempting to graft into Christianity portions of the Old Covenant, that is they were merging works and performance with grace. Paul writes  to them and we today about freedom of sonship and being heirs with our Lord  by grace. Some were wanting to enter into this type of  religion, the very thing that Jesus came to set us free from they were truing to, trusting in their performance, not in Christ alone by grace. They would no longer be free.They would be paying the drachma so-to-speak.

 "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Why you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ". Galatians:4:1-7

Again, the Apostle Paul stresses this freedom that the Children of God are admitted into freely by Jesus

 

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say to you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love" . Galatians:4:1-5

This is the Drachma that all can be free from, to walk in the sonship that is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ alone....freedom that is truly free..when we come to believe in Jesus then  the Children are Free....Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

On the Ash Heap

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him " Job:13:15a

Pastors experience many things over the years, many of which their respective congregations will never hear about this side of eternity. Sometimes these experiences are their own, other time they pass through these things vicariously through the lives of members who are under their care.
Often the words fail to convey what is learned by the varies experiences that pastors have, at times it defies languages' ability to  capture them  and express to others what has been learned.

Marge

Some years ago there was in one of the congregation that I had served in, a woman her name was Marge, I watched this Christian woman slowly die  through the ravages of cancer, even to this day I can not adequately express all of what I learned by watching Marge as she faded from a  healthy woman of 130 pound down to a frail sickly woman of 89 pounds.

 I would see Marge each week at church , she never stopped attending, but came even in the midst of her illness,  she would not allow even cancer to stop her from worshiping  the Savior that she loved, and whom she knew loved her.

Marge knew many things, she understood that  in spite of all that she faced  there was never a moment when she faced it alone. She believed the words of  Hebrews:13:5 where our Lord tells each and all of us "I will never leave you nor forsake you" . Marge knew that Jesus stood for and with her, that through all of it Jesus was there every moment  of every day through the sickness.

Marge had come to that point in her life where she trusted God, no matter what was or did happen to her. Marge reached a point where in the face of the cancer all she could do was leave it in the hands of God and trust that regardless of the outcome that in the end it would be alright.

Job

Marge's' faith and posture of heart brought to mind the words and situation of the Patriarch Job. Job was a man who had many great blessings in  his life. He had wealth, health ,  position,  a large estate and many children, yet in a short time all that was taken away from him, Job lost it all,  suddenly by no fault of his own it was gone. This emphasizes the temporal nature of the life we live here upon the Earth,  nothing of this life is forever. It all will, at some point , come to an end for us.

Job found that  his life,  after the loss of his Children, his livelihood, his estate, his health and even his ability to stand in his position in life, all this gone reduced down to sitting  on an ash heap, his grieving and mournful wife lashing out at him in her sorrow calling on Job to curse his God and die.

"Then said his wife to him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die." Job:2:9

I would like to note that often Jobs' wife is some times viewed by some in an unfavorable way, yet , see her life for a moment, she has just lost everything along with her husband. This woman is lashing out of a broken heart and deep seated grief. Job is not the only one who is suffering ; she too is suffering. 

Even as Jobs' friends begin to impute reasons for all of his loss and suggest that there must be a hidden sin that has caused to God  visit this upon Job. Yet here in the midst of all this tragedy, jobs life reduced to an ash heap he asserts his trust and hope in his God.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him " Job:13:15a

Job understood that no matter what happened ,God would in the end turn all things to Jobs' good. He trusted God in life and in death.

Trusting God

This is what my friend Marge knew even as she laid in that bed dieing at a hospice facility near Uniontown Pennsylvania. I recall my wife Denise and I  drove there on next to the last day of the year;  it was cold and snow covered the icy roads. We entered her room,  Marge was in that bed , now unable to speak above a faint whisper. She had been reduced to to 89 pounds frail and sick,  and was now beyond the point of feeling pain.I can still remember how profound a moment that was, and still is to me. It is hard to explain but in it all I could see the glory of the Lord, Jesus was here in Marge's suffering and dieing.

  We spent only a little time with her, we anointed her and prayed that in life or death that God would be glorified. The last words that Marge spoke  to me , this side of eternity, was in voice that was weak and spoken in barely a whisper , she said  "I am so  blessed"  . All I could respond was  to say "I will see you after". We left the hospice  knowing that unless God Himself stepped in we would not see her again this side of eternity. The next day Marge died.

I have never forgotten Marges' last words to Denise and I....."I am so blessed"

Marge had a life worth preserving, being lived out. She was kind , gentle, warm,  patient and wise, she was easy to love,  but she died.

The Ash Heap

Her life, like Jobs',  was reduced to an ash heap,  all she could do was to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. All of us have or will have moments in our lives where everything seems to be coming undone. We may feel that we have been reduced to the ash heap,  our prospect are reduced and limited. We can become forlorn and feel forsaken and  even our friends may insinuate that what we face is the process of  "divine discipline"  for a hidden sin. Our friends and brethren stand a  part from us ,we feel altogether alone. We are perplexed, no easy answers are forthcoming.

So often when challenges of this magnitude befall us it is our natural inclination to turn our eye to the heavens and to  ask "Why?" . But that is really not the right question. The real question is not "why?" but "who?"

Jesus

When hard times come upon us,  as they will, what ever form they take our question should not be  "why?" but "Who?" . The answer  to "who?"  is Jesus. 

All that we face what ever it may be,  regardless  of its origins,  the answer is Jesus. When answers elude us as to "why?" , our answer is always Jesus. Jesus is the one, and always correct , default answer to any and all challenges.

All things that we face are to show us our need   to look to Jesus and to trust Him.That in Jesus everything is already made right. In Jesus, we have in the end,  hope of life , victory, justification, validation and everything else.

Paul the Apostle was no stranger to challenges, he uses his experiences as an Apostle to  address challenges that do  arise in the Christian life and all that is ours  in Jesus in-spite of what we pass though in this  life.

"We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." 2Corinthians:6:3-10

Paul also tells us in the end all things even if it means our deaths God will turn it to our good through Jesus Christ.
  " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans:8:28

We here this assurance quoted many times, but that is only because it is true.

In the End

Early Christians suffered much, they faced many challenges in life , persecution,loss of freedom, miscarriages of justice, betrayal and much more. Yet to many they understood that all that we face is our sharing in Jesus and they knew that in the end it was going to be all right, because Jesus lives, this was in many ways the whole point of the book of Revelations, John encounters Jesus Christ , and Jesus speaks not just to John or the early church but to Christians down through the ages with the powerful words of comfort that He is alive and we need not fear even death.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation:1:17-18

My friend Marge knew this to be true, she knew that Jesus lives and because He lives she could face sickness and even death with out fear. In the end it would be alright because in Jesus it already is alright. Marge could trust Jesus with her life and her death.....she could whisper those words "I am so blessed " through dieing lips because Marge knew "through He slay me I will trust in Him"

Marge knew that like Job , she would rise from the Ash Heap of death and have eternal life with Her Lord Jesus Christ. And so will any and all who trusts in Him ,  my friend Marge did ...."though He slay me I will trust in Him"...Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com