Sometimes what looks like a choice between good and bad is really a choice between better and best. I pondered and presented a question Tuesday morning, minutes before I found out about Zions passing. This is what I posted: Love makes tough decisions. Can you love someone enough to let them suffer now so that glory can be revealed in them later? I had been meditating on John 11:5-6 which says, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. It was the word so that the Holy Spirit used to bring revelation to my heart. The implication was/is that it was BECAUSE of the Lords love for Lazarus and his sisters that He intentionally allowed Lazarus to die. How could love let someone die? That may be a question that some of you are struggling with over the death of Zion. The Lord himself has given the answer further down in the passage. Most of us know what happens next. Jesus goes to the tomb of Lazarus and raises him back to life. But before He does, He does something and says something. What does He do? He cries; not just cries, but weeps which suggests intense and even overwhelming emotion. Not only does He weep, but He is seen weeping. He did not hide His tears. He identifies with the death of Lazarus and His tears, Terry Esper, were telling the story. I want to pause here to encourage someone reading this to let your tears tell the story, the story of a life lived, a life loved, a life missed and a life celebrated. Its okay, even needful, to cry. Jesus also says something, and what He says answers the question I asked earlier. He speaks of the glory of God. He let the one He loved die so that glory could be revealed. What was the glory that was revealed? Death is not the end. Though he was dead, yet shall he live. The Resurrection and the Life is greater than death. But, where is the comfort in that when a 5 month old baby dies? I believe the answer is in the race. Most of us want lives like a marathon, but some are born and built and purposed for the sprint. Both the marathon and the sprint have a starting line and a finish line, but what happens in between is a world of difference. A marathon runner paces himself for the distance. Because of the time factor, he has more room for error because he has time to recover from it. The race of the marathon runner becomes more intense towards the end but He is able to pace himself in preparation for the finish. A sprinter, on the other hand, has little or no room for error because the sprinter does not have the luxury of time to recover. It is more critical for the sprinter that everything be done right. The race of the sprinter is intense from start to finish. The sprinters race is more focused. The sprinter has to give it all hes got from the moment the starters pistol fires, and he has to maintain that intensity for the duration of the race. Why did Zion die so young? Because he was a sprinter. Why was his race so intense and such a struggle every step of the way? Because he was a sprinter. Why was he even in the race? Because God wanted to reveal glory in Zion, in his parents, in his family and in everyone who was privileged to see any of his race. It may be difficult for some to imagine a baby as a messenger of God, but thats exactly who Zion is. He brought to us the will of God. Because of his life, our faith was strengthened; we prayed more; we were more unified; we encouraged one another; we helped each other; we cried together; we rejoiced together; we helped one another; we showed more kindness; we showed more LOVE. Is that not the message and the will of God? Is that not glorious? Love makes tough decisions. Can you love someone enough to let them suffer now so that glory can be revealed in them later? The tough decision was Gods and in His wisdom, He made His choice and selection. Its not just about His sovereignty, its about His Love: love for Zion, love for others and love for you. The Resurrection and the Life is greater than death. What He raised up in us through Zion and the life He wants us to now live because of Zion is greater than death. Zion did not just live: he ran his race. Zion did not just pass, he crossed the finish line in victory, and the reward and welcoming arms of the One who had put him in this race were waiting for him on the other side. Zions journey continues and as we prepare to celebrate his life, let us remember and carry forward the message for which he gave everything to bring to us.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 11:29:10 +0000
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