GOD KEEPS A DIARY
GOD KEEPS A DIARY
In September I went to hospital and was sick most of the time. I went on a 3 week holiday to Darwin. 11 of my mates died while I was away, and since then 3 more. I didn’t get to see Helen before she died but I had the privilege of conducting her funeral. I reject the atmosphere of death where I work while still recognising that people die. I seek to create an atmosphere where words of life and hope, peace and faith triumph over death’s ability to dominate the Aged Care Facility called Shalom, where my friends live.
Helen loved books and her life, in fact, was like a beautifully crafted novel, the last page of which has been turned and where the ending was so unexpected that you wish there was more to the story.
Her funeral also was very much like the empty pages of a book, and the family, by way of a eulogy, created a story that encapsulated Helen’s life in the words they said and the memories they held of her. God also wrote upon the pages.
Psalm 56:7-9 says “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have RECORDED EACH ONE IN YOUR BOOK.”
We said our goodbyes to Helen. Her faith in Christ was real and she had an assurance that she would one day be with the Lord in heaven. “absent from the body, present with the Lord”.
The Bible tells us about the BOOK OF TRUTH, the Bible, and the BOOK OF LIFE where the names of those who believe in Christ as their Saviour are written.
I also spoke about the BOOKS OF WORKS but of course good works will not get us to heaven. Helen wasn’t relying on the support she gave to countless missions to get her to heaven or even the loving relationships she had with her family. Ephesians 2:8-9 says “Salvation is not the reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Only faith in Christ will enable us to receive the gift of heaven.
Christ had already made a difference in Helen’s life and that’s what inspired her to the many good works she accomplished. Her faith produced good works, but they were done out of love for Christ and her family and her neighbours, not to earn points to get to heaven. Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, No one can come to the Father except through Me”
Psalm 139:13 speaks of yet another book, a DIARY. It says that “You (God) saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was RECORDED IN YOUR BOOK. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Our life before God really is an open book.
How does this book speak of Helen’s life?
Perhaps it was an HISTORIC NOVEL. Many chapters. Or a Love Story, a ROMANCE NOVEL, love for husband, love for children, her love for Christ. She leaves behind the pages of a legacy of FAITH AND LOVE to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to follow. She would want each of them to know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour.
The Holy Spirit wrote into Helens life words such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control,” the fruit of the Holy Spirit which characterised her life. The family and friends, their words, thoughts, actions and choices are also written in many pages of her book.
Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t wait to finish but when you got to the last page it was missing? From our point of view that’s what Helen’s book looks like. We have read only the first part of the book. God holds the other pages for the next chapters of Helens life.
He has totally restored the book, crafted to last for eternity.
We have only the FIRST EDITION COPY. It’s way out of date. It’s been revised since then. The rest of the book will never be finished for us but God is a prolific writer. There is no ending, no tears, no more crying in eternity for Helen.
Helen won’t mind if you PLAGIARISE some of the material for your own lives, especially her faith in Christ. What God writes on the remaining pages of your book is of vital importance. God keeps a diary. It is a diary of your life.
God bless,
Pastor Ross
Created 8 months ago
