The Three J's

Last week brought three J's to my life -- Jon, Jordan and Joseph -- all who died in the crash on Joe's birthday. I know more about them now after attending their funerals than ever I did when they were alive.  They have become boys who were honored by their parents during the gatherings of this community this past week.

It is amazing how their choices to buck the typical agendas at times -- choosing rather to be unique in their choice "not to party" where liquor was present. . . but rather, go to one of the boy's homes one time.

None of us will ever know the final conversations in the car that rainy night when they were headed to Jordan's house. . . but we do know God received them when they passed from this life to their eternal home in heaven where their Savior and Lord awaits all who love Him and obey His commands.

My thoughts now are with their parents, some whose family members, traveling from afar, were here for the events of last week but must have returned to their jobs back home.  So perhaps the houses are now quiet and the deafening silence is almost more than they can bear. . . except for this assurance:  All who are IN CHRIST JESUS, when passing from this life are immediately in the presence of the Lord Jesus and at home with their heavenly Father.

This comforting assurance gives hope of reunion one day.  The loss of a child is not the natural sequence in life.  Parents are to die first. Then the children according to their ages, right?  Yet, our days are numbered.  The breath of life is from God at birth and is removed at death.  The body dies, yet the soul and spirit are alive forevermore in the one who has been Spirit-birthed into New Life in Christ Jesus.  Eternal life begins at that moment and continues for all eternity.

The comfort of mourning with hope of reunion is a gift given by the three J's by their sons.  Grief will do its work of healing broken hearts and shattered dreams which these parents had for their sons.

They mourn, but not as those with no hope!  This gift is such a comfort today! Time will bring God's comfort in many ways and healing will be complete -- though the loss will be felt all their lives.  The anticipated joy of reunion and the awareness that now their sons are among the cloud of witnesses in heaven. . .that is part of the comfort which comes to all our hearts today.

Our prayers are for the family members and close friends who remain to live in a way worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ, obeying all His commands and teaching others to do the same. This leads to Life eternal and hope of heaven , forever with loved ones who have gone on before into the presence of Jesus!

The testimony is that these boys were ready for Jesus. . . and we know Jesus was ready for them  on that rainy night some days ago. . . .