He Did Not Go Alone

It's been just over nine months since Calvin passed away but I am recently assured that he did not go alone.   I have settled into life without him.  I love my home and I'm at peace here.  It's a peace that, in part, has to do with the pictures that I have placed strategically around my home.  I have them all over the house!  At least three in every room, including my bathroom.  In addition, when my computer is in the rest mode more pictures of his last few months and days roll across the screen.  Many of them were taken at the Veterans home where he spent his last two months. Those are the hardest, because when I see them part of me wants to delete them, but I can't do it. Why?  Yes they do show the worst of those final days, but when I look at them I am reminded of something I never want to forget - the tangible, living Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ! 

CHRIST ALONE

Herb Hodges: "That Christ is alive is the most important Truth in our present world. This means that in any and every moment which we call “now”, Jesus Christ is actually, actively, even aggressively, alive! He is alive in every “now”, and will remain alive in every “then”, throughout eternity. That is, though it would seem adequate to say “He is alive”, it is actually not technical enough and adequate enough. We must rather say with Scripture that He is “alive in the power of an endless Life” (Hebrews 7:1)

CHRIST REALIZED 

More from Mr. Hodges - "The second important Biblical Truth of His Resurrection is the Truth of Christ realized, the Truth of His recognized, realized, acknowledged, experienced Presence all the time. I want to know and to show Christ’s maximized Presence with me at every moment, in all situations, in all places, in all times, and in every relationship of life. I repeat this for heavy emphasis. Christian, there is never a moment when He is not with you, when He is not present, when He is not involved, when He is not active, in your life (or death)—never a single moment—and this will remain true forever."
INDESCRIBABLE COMFORT FROM AN OLD FRIEND
Psalm 23 has had a powerful impact in my life.  My first encounter was when I was nine.  I was required to memorize "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" during Vacation Bible School.  It wasn't long after that encounter when I accepted the reality of Christ as my only chance for a relationship with God.  I asked Jesus into my life and into my heart forever.   The next encounter was amid the crisis of a troubled marriage, during that crucial time the words of David "He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name," reminded me of God's love and guidance in every circumstance and reminded me of my first commitment to the Lord and to Calvin.  

MY MOMENT OF TRUTH

Finally, it has touched me again as I grieve the loss of Calvin.  "Be reminded of David’s renowned words of long ago.  In the well-known words of Psalm 23, David wrote, concerning your own “moment of truth,” your own date with death and destiny. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, forYou are with me….”  Please note that up to the fourth verse in Psalm 23, David had been talking about the Shepherd—“The Lord  is my shepherd … He leads me … He makes me to lie down in green pastures … He leads me in paths of righteousness.”  But in verse 4, He no longer talks merely about the Shepherd, he suddenly begins to talk directly to the Shepherd!  When does that occur?  After all the pleasantries of the journey are over, and he descends into the most unpleasant part of the journey, the deep, dark “valley of the shadow of death”!  Christian, Jesus will never be any closer to you than in that moment when you begin your descent into that deep, dark, death valley!  His Presence will never be nearer or dearer to any of His true children than when they “step over the edge”, taking the last step in this life in preparation for taking the first step in the next life.  Remember, “It is appointed unto man once to die (the last stop in this life), and after this, the judgment (the first stop in the next life)” (Hebrews 9:27).  But a Christian does not need to fear either stop; His Master is the Engineer of the entire trip and all of its necessities—for time and eternity!"  Herb Hodges, May Newsletter

Never Alone!

Calvin was not alone!  When I felt him breath for the last time, I was lying next to him in bed.  Me and my life companion.  We had laid close together so many times, through sickness and health and finally we were allowed to spend those last few moments together.  I did not grieve and wail as one with no hope, because the Lord of Psalm 23 was there to take him where I could not go.  I was privilege to escort him to the door of eternity and then experience the peace that Brother Herb talked about, personally.  He's alive!  We were not afraid of evil in those last moments because our Shepherd was there.  His Presence was near and dear to both of us that day.  How about you?  Are you trusting the Shepherd for all His days with you and for his Presence when you die.  Trust Him now!  Your life and death will be an encounter rather than a trial.