I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world. -(John 16:33)
I am still confident
of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait
for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:13-14
"There's hard stuff between you and heaven."
I didn't pay much attention to those words when I first heard them. I wish now I had; I might have been better prepared for the storms that swept through (sweep through) my life. I was 19 when I heard them, and they were coming from a man who would shortly be with God. For years he'd been my pastor and my friend. Even his final days were spent teaching me.
Lately, as I read the apostle Paul's words to Timothy, the last words he wrote before he died, it occurs to me Francis was doing what Paul did for Timothy; getting me ready for what was ahead.
Francis was a back-country preacher from the old school. He wore a suit on Sundays and bib overalls every other day. Even now, when I'm over fifty, I remember nearly everything he said. Having spent years teaching me the Bible and talking to me about Jesus, there were just a few more things he wanted me to hear. They sound like little proverbs now, but back then that's just how he used to talk when we'd sit together on his porch. He'd say things like:
---"Sinners usually don't come to church. Go out and get them."
---"Work hard. Jesus doesn't approve of lazy Christians."
---"Anger doesn't look good to people who need Jesus.
---"God decides what's fair."
---"If you don't read the Bible, you don't know God well."
---"If you don't read the Bible, it's hard to help other people in trouble."
---"Mistakes aren't always sins, but sins are always a mistake."
---"There's hard stuff between you and heaven."
If he'd stopped there, I still would have had mountains of wisdom to live by, but he had one more piece of advice, and it's proven to be the most important words I've ever heard: "There's nothing you and Jesus can't handle; no matter how dark the days get, always remember it will one day get better for those who know Jesus."
Francis lived his entire life focused on eternity. He plowed fields, painted barns, pounded pulpits, preached Jesus, and lived life as fully as any man I've ever known, but he did it all with his eyes on Jesus. Because he did, he could hold the hands of a dying friend and tell them it would be better soon. He could comfort the poor and suffering, and give hope to the hopeless, all because He knew the One who could fix it in the end.
I saw the hope that was in him every day; so did everyone else who knew him.
Most of us already know there's hard stuff between us and heaven. Some of us are living that hard stuff even now, and we may need to be reminded it will one day be better, even if that one day seems far off. In a world where suffering and sickness and poverty and pain surround us in our island of plenty, people need to see that it's Jesus and not "plenty" where our hope rests.
When we live our lives with eternity in view, we find strength beyond our present circumstance. That strength, in moments where others may falter, paints a picture of hope which simply cannot be seen anywhere else. Costly as it is for us in our trials; it may well be the most important view others see of Christ. No one may blame us if the storms of life overtake us; but what majesty there is when one believer's voice sings God's praise as firmly in the dark days as in the light.
Writer to reader, always remember there's
nothing you and Jesus can't handle, no matter how dark the days. It will one day get better for those who
know Him.
When our work here is ended, may they say
this of us: Here was a Christian whose faith never faltered.
--Randy Kilgore
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect-- (I Peter 3:15)
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