“Hey, sir. Got a minute?” the soldier asked.

“Of course. Have a seat.” He pulled out one of the silver folding chairs and sat down.

He got right into it. No small talk. I liked him right away.

“You ever feel like God is silent?” he asked. “I mean, I pray. I repent daily. I really do. But sometimes I keep praying and asking God to show me, and it’s just silence.”

Through previous conversations, I knew him to be a believer, a Christian, a man familiar with Scripture. And he has always had, since I’ve known him, a quiet and dignified, serious way about him. He struck me always as a thoughtful man, not one skating upon the surface of things.

“You remember the persistent widow in Scripture, right?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Remember what Jesus said at the end of that illustration about her, the persistent widow?”

He thought in silence.

He said, “‘And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?'”

“I know.”

“Remember David?” I asked, “that he sought the Lord and the Lord answered him and delivered him from all his fears?”

“I know,” he said. “I just feel like God is silent, like he won’t confirm things to me.”

“I hear you. May I ask you something else?”

“Yes.”

“Are you seeking something in addition to Scripture, some sign or voice to make it all real to you?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Again, I know you know Scripture, but didn’t Peter speak to this tendency we have–to want something additional?”

He sat in silence, looking at me, and looking inward.

“In his second letter, Peter wrote as a man who’d been with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was an intimate friend of Jesus, one of his inner circle . . .”

“Yes,” he said, leaning in.

“But what did Peter remind us of if not the prophetic word more fully confirmed?”

“I know. It’s just . . .”

“What does Jesus tell us again and again in his Word if not to ‘Fear not’ and ‘Be not afraid’ and that he’ll not forsake his sheep?”

“I know,” he said.

“Let me propose an either/or. Is it wise to be led by our feelings and external signs or by his Word?” I asked.

“I just feel like he won’t answer,” he said. “And I’m just so tired.”

“Is the cross not the answer? Is not the Holy Spirit inside of you the answer?” I asked.

“I see,” he said.

We spoke for over an hour–about his past, present, and future. We spoke of our ministries. We spoke of our families. We spoke of military life and the tolls it exacts.

His shift was nearing its end, and we shook hands yet again. “You speak truth, chaplain. I appreciate it.”

“If I don’t do that, brother, I’m in the wrong lane.”

“We’ll talk more,” he said.

“Yes, we will, brother.”

He grabbed his ruck and exited to go get a shower and some rest. I opened my pocket Bible I keep in my right cargo pocket and turned to Romans: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Rom 8:33-35)

Lord, thank you for times like this–times I could never orchestrate in my fallen, sinful, human strength. Teach me to be tender to those you’re dealing with, so that they discover the light in the darkness. You are not far from each of us. We just have to listen. You were here, are here, and will be here. Grip this man, confirm your Word to him, encourage him, and surround him with your presence. You intercede for us when we can’t find even the words to express the anguish we all sometimes feel. Intercede, Lord, for my brother. Comfort him.

Death is an enemy. In the Christian worldview, it’s called “the last enemy.” Paul wrote, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor 15:26).

This piece has two points: 1) Death is inevitable and 2) For all who are in Christ, death ushers Christians into the very presence of God. Death is, therefore, to be understood as a transition into God’s presence. Why? Because of the person and work of Christ.

This past week, I ‘lost’ a friend, Mr. David, to death. Leukemia ravaged his body. Physically, his white blood cells were eating the healthy blood cells. He had to have injections of platelets–again and again. But eventually, even that was insufficient.

First, like you, I feel the deep pain of loss. But I do not grieve as those without hope. God is bigger than death. Through Christ, God has conquered death for his people. And God is omnipresent; he is as near you as the person to your left and right. Near to us in our time of sorrow. Know that in your bones. God is near. 

     Let us acknowledge the sorrow of this time. We know that God understands sorrow. Jesus wept at the loss of a friend. In John 11, the apostle John records that when Jesus lost his friend Lazarus, Jesus “was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (Jn 11:33) and in verse 35, the apostle John records that Jesus wept. 

     Mr. David worked in the IT field for much of his career, then Disney in his later years, and was a “fixer” of almost anything. Prior to his civilian career, he was a U.S. Marine, and worked on helicopters. I knew him after he’d retired. He was a faithful churchman, businessman, and an avid traveler. He and his wife and their friends traveled across the country many times and have set foot in all 50 states. And their stories of RVing with friends made for many sweet conversations I had with them both. 

     When I was Mr. David’s Sunday school teacher and pastor, he was undergoing medical treatments, I’d always go to him and ask how his week was. He’d never complain. He’d answer my question but always end with, “I’m blessed. I’ve had  a good life.” I could tell he was in pain, but true to his nature, he didn’t complain. He eschewed the temptation lesser men might’ve had to feel sorry for themselves. And he’d invariably encourage me by saying kind words about my teaching and ministry, and we’d laugh and embrace. He was an encourager. 

     When I reflect on Mr. David’s legacy, I always remember him telling me of his peace. His supernatural peace. He did not fear death. Because he knew he’d open his eyes not in judgment but in benediction in God’s presence. Let me say this lovingly: Mr. David died well. Like Job, he knew that his redeemer lives, and he (Mr. David) also lives, because Jesus had prepared a place for him. So, yes, we grieve, but not as those outside of the gospel. 

     For all who are in Christ, death is not the end, life is. It’s a transition into the presence of God. Jesus, who cannot lie, promised resurrection and heaven to his people. 2 Cor 5:8 says that the believer, when away from the body, is at home with the Lord. 

     In his last letter he penned, the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7-8). 

     So, to the extended family, friends, and all who loved him, we love you and we loved Mr. David. We acknowledge our sorrow, but we also have the ultimate victory through Christ the Lord. 

     Let me leave you with this: If you are in Christ, dear ones, you will see Mr. David again. All will have been made well. But there’s one condition: be in Christ. Be in Christ and be made whole, be made well. I will see you again, dear brother. Well done. See you soon. 

Text: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise” (Pr 11:30).

Question: Who would not want to be such a person?

Reflections: The idea here is one of blessing other people by being a blessing, to speak the words of life to another soul, to point others to fruitfulness and bounty rather than tearing others down and leaving them devoid of rescue and the hope of redemption.

A similar thought occurs in Daniel 12:3: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

In the picture above, the tree is in bloom. It shouts life. It shouts health. It trumpets beauty and vitality. Who would not want to be a vessel of such a message? That is, who would not long to be part of God’s plan to rescue and restore people to spiritual health? Those who hate God and hate redemption. Those who are anti-life.

This is why the Christian is outward-focused. He has tasted the water of life; therefore, he longs to pay that forward. As the old cliche goes, it’s one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. The bread of life (Jesus) has come down as the manna from heaven to feed the hungry souls of men.

We are wise when we do this, when we are diligent to sow the seeds of the gospel. Pray that God tills the soil of the heart. May we long to see trees of life because of the great work of the triune God. The author of life died upon a tree in Jerusalem and was raised imperishable and undefiled three days later to show us that death for the believer is to meet God face to face and not be condemned. May we speak the words of life to all and pray for God to grant eyes and ears to see that eternal life awaits.