If only you had been here Lord!

"If only you had been here Lord!" the words that Martha spoke to our Lord when her brother died. You can find this quote in the Bible in the gospel of John chapter 11 verse 21.

I have to say that as a minister, I have stood at many gravesides and heard others make a similar statement. This week I found myself asking this very same question, when I found out that a young girl named Kim passed away. She was 13 when the Lord took her home. She and her family have been very faithful to their church, my home church. She passed from cancer. There was not much the doctors could do to help her. She gave her life to Christ before the Lord said enough and took her home. I didn't get to make the funeral and burial. Even if I had been with the family, what can you say? Who knows what losing a child or sister is like unless this has happened to you.

But still the question is in my head, "Where were you Lord?" You could have saved her. You could have healed her. I don't understand why you didn't, you loved her.

When I reflect on this passage in John Chapter 11, I see several things that comfort me. I see our Lord and Savior allowing one of his loved ones to suffer, died, and brought back to life.

We see that Jesus was asked to come by the two sisters; therefore, he knew that Lazarus was sick and dying. He knew for two reasons: he was sent for by them and well because he is the God-Man. He did not give up any attributes when he became a man, he only added onto himself the blood. He not only knew the severity of the illness, he knew that he would lead to death.

Having this knowledge, what he did amazes me. He did not come quickly to heal his friend, but waits until he is dead. He not only waits until he is dead, but he waits 4 days after his death. He could have been there, and healed him! He could have saved everyone the grief. He could have kept them from getting the grave ready!

Also having this knowledge, he meets those who are morning and weeps with them. Why would he do such a thing? Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the shortly. But he wept. It goes to show you that the LORD hates death, he always has. He knows what it feels like to lose one of his children to death, because he has been there. He weeps I think to show how much he cares, and to comfort those who are morning. It shows that there may be weeping at night, but joy comes in the morning!

He did come to Lazarus and his family. He did heal him. He did what he does best, restore what was once lost to sin and death. But the kicker is that he didn't come the way that Martha and Mary had requested. He didn't heal Lazarus before he died. I think the point is that Jesus will always come for his children, just perhaps not the way we pray that he will.

I don't know why Jesus waited to raise Lazarus, and I don't know why he didn't heal Kim either! But I do know that he has his reasons. I do know that he has control. And I do know that he is Holy, Righteous, and Good.

The Bible does not say this, so I am only speculating, but I think that Jesus wept this week. I think that he wept for Kim's family and the pain they felt; but I also think that he wept out of joy. The joy in knowing that one day, he will be able to do what he does does best, restore. He will be able to restore Kim to her parents, her brother, and her church family!

Suspenders In Heaven.

Suspenders every Sunday was the dress of my late Sunday school teacher Russel. Russel spent 50 years serving in the youth department as a Sunday School teacher. At 2:30 PM this past Saturday, The LORD took Russel home. I don't know if there are suspenders in heaven, but I sure hope so. I hope that he is wearing the best set that the kingdom of God has ever seen. The Bible does not exactly say but I think that there is great rejoing in heaven when a believer comes home. I think that the bells of heaven ring out when a child of God enters into Glory.

A few things about Russel that few people know is that every Christmas he would give all the youth $ in an envelope. He would always say "you all teach me more than I teach you" and "teaching the youth keeps me young".

Russel was also a WWII veteran. He could never talk about what he experienced overseas so many years ago with crying. He served his country with bravery and loyalty. I will always be thankful to him for his willingness to serve.

I also most thankful that he was willing to serve the local church and his LORD through 5o years of service. Thank you Russel and thank you LORD for using him in my life. You will be missed

What I learned in Seminary!

Today, I just received an email from SBTS informing that I need to have my graduation picture taken. After a five and a half years at Southern Seminary I have learned a few things.

One thing that I have found is that seminary professors are like mountain climbers. You always want to go with the experienced ones, because the young bucks have something to prove. Let's not forget that they just finished or are finishing their PHD and man they want someone to pay for what they have been through!

Second, don't kid yourself, seminary is not a vacation. If you are called to seminary, don't got to a seminary church, go to a church that really needs you. Just because you are in school you do not have an excuse to not serve in a local church.

And finally, Satan seeks division. Let's not kid ourselves into thinking when we banter theology around with church members and other students. We have a lost world to reach. We can all agree that the gospel is urgent and commanded. So share the faith.