Years ago I remember seeing a preacher named E.V.Hill deliver a sermon entitled "I Have Been Through the Night". E.V. Hill is an African American preacher who was considered by some to be the best preacher of his time not just for what he said but how he said it. I still remember him saying at one point, "I have laid my hands on tumors and seen them shrivel up and disappear and I have laid my hands on my wife and watched as God took her to glory, I have been through the night." E.V. had seen some people get healed and yet the one he probably wanted healed more than any other was not and God took her to glory. I write that now because while I am grateful that God has been gracious to my family in allowing my dad to be with us a little longer, I also know there are plenty of you out there who have been through the night. When my little brother died I remember thinking that if God wants credit every time someone gets better he should be prepared to get the blame every time someone does not. Now 20 some years later I still don't know why God does what he does. Out of all the questions I can ask God, the why question is the one that burns and yet it is the why question that in the long run may not matter at all. Suppose God could explain in his divine calculus why it was better for my brother to die at 20 and for my father to live at 76. Even if I could understand it, I would still miss my brother the same and still be rejoicing in that my dad was going to celebrate another Christmas with us. I guess I am writing this to let you all know who are going through the night, that I still feel for you. I don't think there are easy answers and please don't think that God answers our prayers because we are clergy and not yours. I remember being mad at God for a while after my little brother died. I ended up really missing God. I also remember reading a psalm where the psalmist said, "Two things I know of you, two things have I heard. That you O God are strong and that you O Lord are loving." The psalmist spoke truth into my life in the midst of the night during the loss of my brother and he speaks the same truth into the joy of the morning now with my dad.
Monday, October 26, 2009
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Pastor Joe, reading thru your blog I can relate to that as my dad passed away when I was 15 and he (my dad) was only 45. For some time growing up I asked "why?" but never got an answer but looking back he has blessed me and my family and he has kept my mom alive all these years and she has been a prayer worrier for us, all these years. We were three boys growing up without a father with no regrets as He has blessed all of us.
"For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God." Isaiah 43:1B-3A
continuing to pray for your dad and the entire family.
God Bless,
Steve Roy
Thank you, Joe.
From:
One sheep from a flock of many.
Psalm 28:9 "Defend your people, Lord; defend and bless your chosen ones. Lead them like a shepherd and carry them forever in your arms."
"In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." ESV
We do not know the number of days any of us have. I know that you wish your brother had had more, and I know you are grateful that indeed, your dad has been granted more. Each day is a gift, and we are all resting in God's care and in his Providence. He has all of our days counted. Each of us. Just as the hairs on our heads are numbered, so are our days. Glorious thought. I can't wait to see Jesus.
I wish I could give credit to the author, but I've heard it said that our human understanding compared to God's wisdom is like setting a dog loose in the Library of Congress -- volumes of knowledge all about, but he knows only to sniff for food, merely sustenance for survival in a savage world.
But God has prepared a place for us!
Your notes here remind me your own sermon on Job.
30 plus years ago my little sister of 19 years had a terrible car accident, was pronounced dead at the scene, revived and put on life support. I begged God to let her live.She did vegetativly for 10years.I learned in todays world things are worse than death.. Only after the Lord called my son home at 19 years did I see any purpose for my sisters prolonged 'life'. Thankfully my son was a strong believer and there was joy in the mourning. Knowing he is with the King brings more joy than sadness.
Read your blog comment re: EV Hill.
I agree. I heard EV a few times at PK conferences. Each time, I was blessed by his content, delivery and practical application of New Testament truth to the current times.
May we have some update please about dad. Thank you.
Update, please, I second to that.
Pastor Joe, any update on your dad.
Steve Roy
"Any of it [teaching] that is good is in the Word of God, and any that is not in
the Word of God is not good. I am a Bible Christian and if an archangel with a
wingspread as broad as a constellation shining like the sun were to come and
offer me some new truth, I'd ask him for a reference. If he could not show me
where it is found in the Bible, I would bow him out and say, I'm awfully sorry,
you don't bring any references with you'"
A.W. Tozer
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