CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

Starting Line to Checkered Flag…

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

As Easter is approaching, this scripture touched my heart.

Luke 7:11-17 Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, “Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.

They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, “God is back, looking to the needs of his people!”

Only son… I am an only child myself. When my Dad died, I was the one, the only one, to take care of my mother. I understand the grief, the loss, even the fear this mother must have had. And then Jesus came to her. His heart was broken, not just for her, but that death had taken a young life. What joy she must have felt when she saw her son sit up out of the coffin alive!

I have a friend whose only son was stricken with a life-threatening illness. He was close to death two or three times with little to no hope of recovery. Then, with many prayers lifted in his behalf, Jesus touched the young man, gave the Doctors supernatural wisdom, and lifted him out of his deathbed. He is restoring and the family is praising God for the miracle.

Jesus understood the pain and sacrifice of being an only Son. His Father had to watch His one and only Son carry the sins of the world to a cross. Jesus died on the cross by choice so that those who believe in Him would never have to pay the price for their sins. On this upcoming Easter, take the time to ponder… could you love someone so much you would give up your only son for them? That is what our loving God did for us!

John 3:16 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Jesus overcame death once and for all and forever by being raised from the grave. He walked out of the tomb, just like He raised that young son out of the casket. That guarantee of eternal life with Him is a standing invitation. Please take it. Your life will be changed forever!

Blessings on and off the road,

Jim and Betty Edleston CMA