Tabitha turns 3

We were privileged to be on holiday in Namibia with my parents during the time of Tabitha's 3rd birthday. Going away during this time is not a bad idea at all, I realised, and spending it with 3 people very close to me was a bonus. Off course we built another kite - bigger and better than last year, slightly more refined with an aluminium structure as opposed to a wooden one, and a longer and heavier tail. I'd like to share some pictures with you (see next post).  We were in Dead Valley, Sossusvlei on her birthday. I'm pretty sure we are the first people to ever fly a kite there! But the wind was only blowing ever so slightly so we flew it a second time when we got to Henties Bay on the Skeleton Coast. 

We do this every year in memory of Tabitha. We still miss her everyday and never want to forget her, or the truths we learned through her life and death. We are still thankful that the Lord thought it well to bring this tragedy into our lives to draw us closer to Him, and hang on to the eternal Hope which we have in His Son, Jesus. (Ps 115:3, Job 42:2, Ps 103:19, Lam 3:37, James 1:2-4, Rom 8:28) He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 says, "Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him."

We have also been confronted with death in our family recently with the passing of Wessel's grandmother, Ouma Martha at the age of 91. We thank the Lord that she was a believer and that the family can be comforted by that. We pray that the Lord will be glorified in the memory of her life and death.

R.I.P.?

With all this thinking about the futility of life, especially also with the media buzz that went on around the tragic passing of Robin Williams recently, I thought it well to write down a few thoughts about people's response to death. A popular response is always to say 'R.I.P.'. But what does it mean? Off course its a way for well meaning people to show their condolences after someone's passing away. But will they really rest in peace? Will your wishing that they rest in peace make any difference? If they couldn't find rest here will they find it hereafter? I'm sorry to discuss such a grim topic but this is a message for the living, not the dead. Lets think about this while there is still an opportunity to change our eternal destiny. 


It is actually quite simple. Peace cannot be found apart from God. And God cannot be found apart from Jesus. (John 14:6) Jesus can only be found through repentance and faith. And when you do, you will experience rest for your soul. Peace. Not only in the afterlife, but even now. There is no way for a soul to find rest when it is troubled by sin and guilt. Consciously or unconsciously. The human soul will always be searching until it finds what God intended it to find. It is again God's loving way to prompt a person to cry out to Him and be saved. He will not give you peace if you do not turn to Him for forgiveness of sin and salvation.  He promised that those who search for Him with all their hearts will find Him. 

Isaiah 55:6-7  says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (See also Matt 7:7-8 and Jer 29:13)

 

Sadly some people in their self-righteousness and rebellion toward God never do that. Tragically they will not rest in peace, but will face the wages of sin and enter into the second death, which is eternal and cannot be undone. The Bible describes it, among other things, as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30), a lake of fire (Revelation 20:14), destruction and separation from God (2 Thes 1:5-9 - "This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might...")

 

When a person dies who is in Christ, however, they immediately are in the presence of God. (2 Corinthians 5:8) And when a person who still lives, believes, he immediately enters into God's rest. In fact, Christ himself is the fulfillment of the Sabbath rest. (Mark 2:28) Rom 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

 

I hope you will see that my intention is not to condemn anyone. Only God truly knows who were saved through Jesus, even if it was in their last moments. Some who have lost loved ones who might not have been saved, might be tempted to reject this message, but I urge you to not harden your hearts to the Truth of God's Word, because even if it is too late for them, it is not too late for you. Call on Him while He can be found! And while the punishment (which nobody likes to talk about) seems harsh, know that God is righteous and just. He will not let the guilty go unpunished (Nahum 1:3). But He is also loving, which is why He lowered himself to human level to become the perfect sacrifice for sin (Phil 2:5-11, 2 Cor 5:21), so that He can bail all of us out, who would otherwise also be guilty. As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor 15:22). I thank Him every day that He paid my ransom and that I am free from the consequences of sin I actually deserved! The difference between being declared 'innocent' and 'guilty' is therefore not how good you are, but if you are in Jesus, the only One who is truly good in God's eyes!

Matthew 11:28-30 
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”