As I write this, two well-known personalities in the area of music and opinion have passed away within the span of a couple of hours. The Christian singer Carman, who was popular in the 1980's through the early 2000's , was known for songs such as "Addicted to Jesus", "The Champion", "Who's in the House?", "America Again", and the Western themed "Satan, Bite the Dust!". He was noted for giving numerous concerts around the country and the world, often at no cost because he wanted as many people as possible to hear not just his music, but the Gospel message. He had undergone a series of treatments for pancreatic and other forms of cancer over the years, but it was complications from a surgery that took him home to be with his LORD on February 16, 2021. Not two hours later, the news came that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh had succumbed to the terminal lung cancer he had been fighting with for over a year, with his wife by his side. His 2020 year end broadcast was a combination of gratitude to his fans, love for his family, and a testimony of faith in the LORD amidst the pain and treatments. He told of his decision to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior some time before that, no doubt with the help and prayers of his younger brother David, an attorney and author of four books on the life and work of Jesus that became best-sellers.
These two men from different backgrounds, interests, and talents each made a difference in the lives of people who were lost spiritually and isolated by ideology. Carman and Rush were used by God to show in His own way and time that He cared for His people and was involved in the affairs of the nation and the world and would bring everything to a conclusion according to His will, plan, and glory. This is true of not just these two personalities, but for anyone who surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and His direction for them. Men, women, and children over the decades, centuries, and millennia have bowed the knee in the service of the King and have worked in a variety of areas such as teaching, preaching, building, inventing, laboring, healing through medicine and therapies, taking care of a household, caring for the poor, fighting wars and keeping the peace, leading nations and armies, writing, evangelizing, and even doing what would be seen by some as menial, like mopping floors and cleaning commodes for the glory of the LORD in a school building, office, church, hospital, of facility. Some serve where the aged and infirmed are cared for by gentle souls who could be making more money somewhere else, but find that keeping a lonely senior adult company in the nighttime hours is far more valuable to them than the riches of society. The attendant in the animal shelter who lovingly cares for the least of God's creation may see nothing more than a wagging tail or soft purr in appreciation for what they do, yet will smile in quiet joy when one of these precious animals finds a new home, knowing that the same God who watches over them also feeds the birds of the air, just as Jesus said (Matthew 6:25-26).
Many Christians get to live long, fulfilled lives where they may see the fruit of their labors as God decrees. They may live long enough to see future generations surrender their lives to the service of the King of Kings because of the model of love, devotion, and service they presented before friends and family without pretense or deceit. Their lives and service were honest and righteous before the LORD and they had nothing for which to be ashamed. They went to their deaths with full confidence that when they awoke from taking their final breath, the first One they saw was none other than Jesus Himself and those whom had been touched by this faithful servant's work. Others, however, saw the specter of martyrdom come over them and their family as hostile tribes, armies, or governments came and put them under arrest, where they were imprisoned, tortured, and then were killed in one of several barbaric ways. The history of the early church runs red with the blood of the martyrs who laid their lives down for the sake of the Gospel. The apostles themselves all died as martyrs through hanging, stoning, being flayed with knives, shot with arrows, run through with spears, crucifixion, and beheading. It definitely was not their best life now, but their eternal home outshined anything this world offered. The twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have seen more Christians being killed and persecuted for their faith than in the previous centuries, and until Jesus returns, I am certain that the body count is going to continue to rise worldwide and will certainly occur here in America. It is just a matter of time.
No matter what talent, service, gift, or specialty that the LORD gave you, and no matter if what you have done for Him has ended in a position of authority or anonymity, if you have been faithful in your duty to Him and did your best to obey Him with an attitude of thankfulness, graciousness, and humility, then you are just as eligible to run the race as did the heroes of the faith who ventured on this road before us. Paul told the Corinthians that we are all part of the body of Christ each given different responsibilities and purposes, no matter how great or small, and that we all work together, functioning as needed and expected for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel. No one spiritual gift is better or more valuable than the other and we should not ask for anything else. The Sovereign LORD knows what we are capable of doing with the talents He has given us. He trusts us to use them for His benefit and for the edification of the brethren. Spiritual gifts cannot be refunded or exchanged. If we would quit worrying about what we do not have and be thankful for what He has bestowed upon us, the job he has given to us would be near completion and the race you are running for Him would be closer to the finish line. Do your job while there is still light in the world.
The day is fast approaching when no one can work. Our calling and ministry is about to end. The archangel is getting ready to sound the trumpet and the LORD is about to give His shout (1Thessalonians 4:13-18). Now is the day of salvation for anyone reading this message and not right with God (2 Corinthians 6:2). Repent, ask the LORD to forgive you of your sins and then surrender your life to Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Romans 5:6-11, 10:9-10; Hebrews 7:25). The brethren who have gone before us are ready to be reunited with their new bodies and to have us join them in the air with the Lord Jesus. They have been waiting to see you and to fellowship with you in the presence of the LORD in the new heaven (Revelation 21:1-7). You will see your loved ones again if they were in Christ. There will be no more death, disease, tears, pain, or sin to ever harm or weary us ever again. My grandparents, my parents, my friends, my little girl, and the great men and women of faith of whom I have read about and admired all my life will be there I will be in the presence of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has always been with me, ever faithful, ever loving, and is even now at the finish line cheering us on until that great and glorious day when we can take off our racing gear and put on the robes of glory and enjoy Him forever. We want you in heaven with us, friend. He's waiting at the line for you, too.
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