Friday, March 21, 2008 at 1:01am
'Bye, Grandma
Column: For His Glory
Tuesday I was away at a ministers meeting when I got the call from Mom — Grandma had passed away. I wasn't too surprised, and yet I was deeply saddened. It's not like she had been sick. After all, at the age of 90 she had been able to walk up Lookout Mountain on her own. God just decided that my dear old grandma was ready to sleep in the Lord and rest from the cares of this life. She lived a long life; not many of us will get to be 93 years old and in perfect health. She died with her trust in Jesus Christ.
What I remember most about my grandma is that she always spent each morning reading her Bible and her devotional book. She constantly prayed for her family, and during my wild years she especially prayed for me. I can't imagine where I would be without her prayers. Her trust in the Lord was deeper than the deepest ocean, and she constantly, gently reminded me that my relationship with Jesus had to be priority No. 1. I know she was very proud when I told the family I was going to be, by God's grace, a minister, and even then she continued to pray that my ministry and marriage would prosper. I will be forever grateful for that.
Another aspect I will miss is that she loved to feed her grandson every time I came home. She would always cook and make me salad and never hesitated to give me seconds if I wanted some. She has even fed most of my friends throughout the years. All of my closest friends have tasted her food and have enjoyed it. She will be missed.
Yet what I take with me now is that I know I don't have to be too sad, because I trust in God and one day I will see her again. One day we will both be with God in the vigor of eternal youth never to depart. But now, as she sleeps in the Lord, I have to honor her trust in God by preaching the gospel He has given me, because in part my ministry is an extension of her love for God. Her desire to raise her family with trust in God has trickled to her son and daughters and to her grandkids, and that is a legacy that reaches beyond this world. So as I fly back home to be with my family and lay Grandma down to rest, I know that this is not the end because I have the promises of the Bible.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Grandma died in the hope of the resurrection because she loved and served Jesus Christ. Her Salvation is in His arms, and so is mine. Where do you put your trust? In whose arms do you rest? Anything short of the loving arms of Jesus Christ will fall short. Remember: No Jesus, no peace; know Jesus, and know peace. He loves you!
— — —
Gio Marin is the pastor of the College Station and Waller Seventh-day Adventist Church in the state of Texas. He graduated in December 2007 with a master of divinity degree from Andrews Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Send him an email at {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Gio Marin.
What I remember most about my grandma is that she always spent each morning reading her Bible and her devotional book. She constantly prayed for her family, and during my wild years she especially prayed for me. I can't imagine where I would be without her prayers. Her trust in the Lord was deeper than the deepest ocean, and she constantly, gently reminded me that my relationship with Jesus had to be priority No. 1. I know she was very proud when I told the family I was going to be, by God's grace, a minister, and even then she continued to pray that my ministry and marriage would prosper. I will be forever grateful for that.
Another aspect I will miss is that she loved to feed her grandson every time I came home. She would always cook and make me salad and never hesitated to give me seconds if I wanted some. She has even fed most of my friends throughout the years. All of my closest friends have tasted her food and have enjoyed it. She will be missed.
Yet what I take with me now is that I know I don't have to be too sad, because I trust in God and one day I will see her again. One day we will both be with God in the vigor of eternal youth never to depart. But now, as she sleeps in the Lord, I have to honor her trust in God by preaching the gospel He has given me, because in part my ministry is an extension of her love for God. Her desire to raise her family with trust in God has trickled to her son and daughters and to her grandkids, and that is a legacy that reaches beyond this world. So as I fly back home to be with my family and lay Grandma down to rest, I know that this is not the end because I have the promises of the Bible.
"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Grandma died in the hope of the resurrection because she loved and served Jesus Christ. Her Salvation is in His arms, and so is mine. Where do you put your trust? In whose arms do you rest? Anything short of the loving arms of Jesus Christ will fall short. Remember: No Jesus, no peace; know Jesus, and know peace. He loves you!
— — —
Gio Marin is the pastor of the College Station and Waller Seventh-day Adventist Church in the state of Texas. He graduated in December 2007 with a master of divinity degree from Andrews Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Send him an email at {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Gio Marin.