I am about to be leaving for Mississippi.  A dear friend will be taken off the vent today and most probably her struggle will be over and she will go to see Jesus.  Her husband and three daughters have been grieving and struggling with this decision for over a week after a long battle with cancer.

This morning (Tuesday) around 4:00 AM I got a call from one of the daughters.  When I saw the area code, I figured Christy was calling to tell me her mom had passed away.  What I didn’t expect to hear was that they found her dad… he had gone to be with Jesus some time during the night.

Now instead of dealing with losing one parent… three daughters are having to deal with losing both parents.  I don’t have a point of reference for that.  I can’t imagine what they’re going through.  But I do know God is faithful.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation (test) has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation (test) He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

I believe God.  I believe what God wrote in 1 Cor 10:12-13.  But that doesn’t make it any easier just now for Christy, Mandy, and Laura.  Nor does it make it any easier for Ms. Bonnie… Ricky’s mom, or Danny… Ricky’s brother.

Listen closely.  We as believers need to be strengthening our walk with God NOW.  We don’t need to wait until tough times hit.  Walk with God now… read the Scriptures now… fellowship with believers now… pray faithfully now.  Then when the hard days come you will be much more ready.  It will still be hard, but you will be better prepared.

I’m thankful that Christy, Mandy, Laura, Ms. Bonnie, and Danny know Christ.  I’m thankful that Ricky and Colleen know Christ.  I’m glad that Ricky will be one of the first to welcome his beloved Colleen to heaven!  I’m glad that Jesus will hug them both and there will be great celebration in glory.  My desire for us is found in what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18…

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, thatwe who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I have never known two sweeter people than Ricky and Colleen Hamilton.  They were members of the first church I served… Antioch Baptist Church in Prentiss, MS.  I will miss them, but I will see them again one day… right after I fall at the feet of Jesus in glory!