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Multiple Sclerosis Victim
Romans 8:18
There are moments of life that we never forget and there are people in life that we will never forget.
(Name) is one of those persons.
She was very special.
The very thing that made her special to us we would have removed, if we had the power.
- We would have removed her suffering.
- We stand helpless when we watch a loved one suffer and ask the question over and over again, why the suffering?
- We know we must trust God for the reason why anyone suffers.
The assurance is sweet that, when death comes for the Christian, all suffering is laid aside, and this child of God
has entered a place of joy and peace prepared for her.
For her there is no more suffering.
"... Your day has come, not gone
Your sun has just arisen and not set
Your life is now beyond the reach
Of death and toil, of pain and change."
(Name) has already experienced what Paul has declared in Romans 8: 18: "For I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
A dreadful disease robbed (name) of good health here on earth, but we rejoice for (name) that this is no longer true.
She has been freed from the frailties of the flesh and from the burdens that bound her heart and life here on this earth.
- Where there has been disease, she now has perfect health.
- Where there has been pain, there is now relief for there is no pain.
- Where there has been dread, there is now victory from fear.
- Where she has been unable to walk; she is walking and leaping for joy all over heaven.
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth... and I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven... and I heard a great voice out of heaven and saying,
Behold, God is with men... He dwells with them... and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,
and there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away... and there shall be no more death..." (Revelation 21: 22)
Several weeks ago, I visited (name) when she was alone, and we had a long visit and a conversation about dying.
- She began the conversation by telling me about a dream that she had.
- She was in the hospital, and unknown to those caring for her, she was bleeding to death.
Her blood was covering the floor under her hospital bed.
- She said that she dreamed in color for the first time that she could ever remember.
- She said that her dream was in a beautiful, light color.
- She related how she was walking along a white picket fence.
- She could see a gate up ahead of her.
- She felt that if she could just get to the gate everything would be all right.
But she didn't make it to the gate.
The voice of her nurse was yelling at her to wake up.
The nurse was standing in her blood.
- She was upset that the dream was over, and that she was not able to go through the gate.
- She realized that this was more than dream.
- She lost a lot of blood.
Just a few more minutes and she would have gotten to the gate.
- She received the help that she needed, and then, during the weeks that followed -- she continued to suffer.
- She continued to suffer until Friday night.
- She walked aside that picket fence, and this time -- thank the Lord! -- She went through the gate.
"There's an open gate at the end of the road
Through which each must go alone,
And there, in a light which we cannot see,
Our Father claimed His own;
So beyond the gate your loved one
Finds happiness and rest,
And there is comfort in the thought
That a loving God knows best."
And that loving God who has received your wife into His presence has given to her all He has promised.
And that same loving God will be your strength and comfort, as you go through the days without her.
So, look to God!
"Oft times the day seems long.
Our trials hard to bear;
We're tempted to complain,
To murmur and despair;
Life's Day will soon be o'er
All storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide
To glory, safe at last;
It will be worth it all,
When we see Jesus
Life's trials will seem so small,
When we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race,
Till we see Christ."
Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at hleewhite@aol.com
