5/15/13 JS

Let the hurt and the healer collide

Please dont take this offensively, as I have felt your pain, loss, and wish for vengeance. My younger brother three years ago next month was taken away from us in what seemed to be at the expense of someone else. Doctors didnt diagnose him with pneumonia after multiple trips to the emergency room and being sent home, He suddenly died. It left my family with feelings beyond despair, beyond hate, beyond understanding. I know its not the same situation, but unfortunate life loss, is all the same. In a world of hate, lies, and pain there s a difference to be made. Its got to start somewhere. Difference, a difference from the world we live in. When tragedy strikes, theres a flood of emotions that consume every part of us. You have the chance to come to Jesus Christ, who holds all the answers. He wipes away tears, pain and sorrow. I speak personally as a witness of his saving grace, love and healing. My Lord is not a myth; I havent only heard of Him, Ive heard Him. His spirit lives inside us, as we accept Him to. As weve transgressed against God and his commandments, while we were sinners against God, he gave us Jesus Christ, the chance to be 100 percent forgiven of how we turn against God every day. Jesus took Gods wrath against sin. Were forgiven of such sins like stealing, lying, hating one another, and lust adultery inside our heart. Without this gift, we would all be guilty before God on our judgment day. Its truth. You can have this gift, just have to believe in Christ, and repent of your sins. John 5:24Jesus said Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. God is the ultimate judge of his creation and for Him to forgive like that is humbling. Were wretched people, he is righteous. His ways are not our ways; we dont understand all his workings. In tragedy, we dont know why sometimes he allows it. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mothers womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.- Ecclesiastes 11:5. One thing we do know, we know how to deal with tragedies and all of lifes circumstances. He gives us direction in His word. Forgiveness is hard to do. Forgiving others sets you free; its beneficial to yourself first. It lets go the pain, the suffering, and haste from your heart, gives it to God for him to use his just and holy ways to deal with it how he sees fit. Judgment and vengeance is not ours to take. After all, He being more powerful than us could bring greater vengeance that we ever could, if

his will require that. Romans 12:17-21--Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the
sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 20 Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. To experience true peace from life tragedies, sometimes it takes drastic measures and personal inner battles. In this fallen, morally damaged society we live in tragedies are a daily happening worldwide. Its truly heartbreaking, and what the world needs in the love that The Lord Jesus Christ can offer. The world has taken a wrong turn from God; all it takes is a few more turns to return back. Ive experienced pain, and through forgiveness my heart holes have been filled with grace, love, and joy. Jesus says again Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Wishing vengeance ourselves doesnt fill the holes of loss, pain or sorrow. Love fills the holes. Truth fills the holes. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 1 Corinthians 13:4-10 teaches us 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. Nothing will change the circumstance youve been encountered with. There is now a choice to be made. Love or hate. Love always wins. Hate always leads to destruction. Let the hurt meet the healer, give it to God, and obey his word. It never fails. Let us be the mending, changing link in the chain of hate.