Thursday, February 3, 2011

And He Stood

Dear Friends and Family,

It's a cold cloudy morning here in NC. But at least we're not buried under 2 feet of snow! Yesterday it was in the 60's.

Yesterday I read several more news articles of the death of the American missionary, Nancy Davis. This event made world news. As I've mentioned before Jon and I went to college with her husband, Sam.  I was reading some of the comments that others had emailed in at the bottom of some of the articles. I was shocked at the flood of hate mail!! Nancy was labeled as stupid, one of those ignorant Christians, etc.. Some considered she got what she deserved. Such is the world's view of those who fulfill Christ's Great Commision, who are wholefully surrendered to Him.  They are labeled "fanatics."

This morning I heard a news clip about "fans" at the super bowl. It was a medical article about how many heart attacks happen during, or follow those events.  These are folks who are whole heartedly in love with the sport. These are folks who sometimes travel many miles, brave the harsh elements of the weather, and spend lots of money to devote themselves to the "love of their life."  Winning the game is so important to them, that it seriously affects their hearts. Sometimes costing them their lives.

Where do my interests, loyalities, and commitments lie? What or who is the "love of my life?" Does it affect "my heart?"  Am I a fan, or a fanatic? Guess that depends upon who is the judge, doesn't it?

I thought this morning, of the great sacrifice that Nancy made for the Mexican people that she loved so dearly.  A lot of the hate mail was targeted at these people as well. But you can be sure, Nancy loved them even unto death.

I was reminded of the first martyr, Stephen.  He was considered a fanatic as well. Such hate that was unleashed upon him. And yet through Stephen's death, Saul became the great apostle Paul. Paul became the great Evangelist to the Gentiles, who were considered dogs by the Jews. So many of our beautiful books of the NT were penned by this great man, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

As Stephen breathed his last breath, he looked up toward Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God!!  Christ in all His Heavenly glory, arose to welcome Stephen home!!!

I wonder how Nancy was ushered into His Presence?  Did the Son of God stand? Who knows? Maybe...... One thing for sure, there must have been great rejoicing!  Through the many years of Nancy's faithful service, many souls were born into the family of God.  I suppose some of those redeemed ones were on the welcoming committee as well....

In I Corinthians 2, Paul penned these words:   

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
   “What no eye has seen,
   what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
   the things God has prepared for those who love him—
 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

Rejoicing to be His,

Linda