This world lost a mighty
warrior with a tender heart this week. His wife and daughters sadly lost what
heaven dearly gained. Family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ are left
to sort out the myriad of emotions that follow an untimely passing of one who
had so exemplified life and health, servanthood and integrity, humor and
talent.
He was a brother-in-Christ
from my former church family. His name was Marc, which means “mighty warrior”, “warlike”
or “defender”. A Godly soul, unwrapped of his earthly cover, was swept into an all
too early meet and greet with the Premier of Glory. I picture him suited now in
a manner worthy of his name. A double
dose of irony though comes in knowing that while he no longer needs a fighting
suit, those who remain feel stripped, weak, maybe even defeated.
It has caused me
to think about the cloaks we wear and the fruit we bear, while we cling to this
earthly address. We all get our chance. Our very existence here allows both
good and bad seed to be sown into our core. The weeding, pruning and
cultivating we choose to submit to always determine our crop, our character.
We hold out our
best fruit for inspection and hope that our foliage covers our poor fruit or maybe
our good fruit that we want some poor souls to glean from.
The fruit of one
of Marc’s talents was offered in the form of private guitar lessons to the youth
in his church, perhaps as if to graft them into a future worship team in
remembrance of his own joy serving there.
His fruit of
secret giving was known to only a rare few, for the simple reason that it was
done in secret.
In this most
recent season he bore much fruit ripe with courage. He extended choice pieces
of it to his family, his friends, those who cared for him, especially near the
very end of his earthly harvest time.
Just recently
after astounding everyone by coming out of a severe health crisis, his fruit of
kindness and humor was extended to his church family when he apologized to them
from his hospital bed, sorry that he hadn’t been answering their calls or emails, due
to sleeping a lot.
The fight, the
endurance, the suffering that had transpired in Marc’s life for months had
at the outset been somewhat masked by Marc’s presented zeal and hope, some of
his most shiny fruit. Supporters may
have initially side glanced to save themselves from seeing the harsh realities
he was facing.
Eventually though,
there were so many standing with Marc and his family with love and unyielding
belief . . .for a magnificent healing miracle to be manifest. Earnest hearts
wanted God to be glorified by the removal of that foul enemy called cancer. All
those who held firmly to their faith in God and His promises diligently tried
to carry this young man to the Healer.
Their love for him
strengthened their own resolve. Their persevering prayer for him developed fresh
realms of their own faith. Their
fasting for him newly defined their own ability to sacrifice. Their unity built
a crest I am sure God was proud of. Their timely and timeless support for their
brother reached the satisfied face of the timepiece called the Ancient of Days.
Perhaps the most
priceless paradox revealed is that in the midst of the loving acts of faith for
a miracle, that appear to have been thwarted by Marc’s passing, in reality what
was accomplished is that all those who acted in love on his behalf have been
transformed into warriors of greater effect than they ever were before. In his
mounting departure he has left behind more “warlike defenders”. Not stripped or weak or defeated, but strong
and ready to take up arms of faith and of love, at the next battle cry, for the
sake of another.
Galatians
5:6b “The only thing that counts is faith
expressing itself through love.”
May
the fruit of our lives always be for the sake of others, until we all have the
fulfillment of going home.
Please
join me in praying our Lord’s most tender comfort for Marc’s family. Thank you.
Gratefully
HIS,
Jan
1 comment:
Thank you Jan. That was so beautifully said. He was a wonderful example of a christian man. My heart breaks for his wife and daughters as well as all of those in his church who are dealing with such utter loss. I will now turn my intercession for those left behind. May God fill their hearts with the love and comfort that only He can give. kathie
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