14 - The Peachland View
March 9, 2012
Food for the soul: If only I had died instead of you! by Pastor John Rankin Peachland Baptist Church My heart grieved last week when I read about a nine-year-old girl named Savanah who died after allegedly being forced by her grandmother to run for three hours without stopping as punishment for having lied about eating candy bars. What a tragedy. A few years ago three children were murdered in the town of Merritt, where we lived at the time. It was absolutely senseless and devastating to the community and beyond. A loss of a child is devastating at any time, which my wife Maria and I know all too well, but it is particularly so when it occurs in such a brutal and sadistic fashion, as happened to those dear children. In II Samuel 18:33 when King David’s son Absalom died in battle, he began to tremble violently and wept bitterly. He said, “O my son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. If only I had died instead of you - O Absalom, my son, my son!” What parent wouldn’t gladly switch places with their precious child, even when that child has turned against them, as it was in the case of Absalom? God Himself takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires everyone to turn from their evil ways and live (Ezekiel 18:23). He especially takes no pleasure in the eternal death of anyone, but that all would turn to Him and live with Him forever. That’s where our little angel is right now! It has been over 28 years now since our precious little girl Jonnita died at three and a half months old. I was out
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working and got the news to go to the hospital right away. It all seemed surreal and my mind was spinning in disbelief. She had just been through a medical check up and was declared 100 per cent healthy - and now she was gone. They used to call it crib death, but now designate it SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). But we asked, “Why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen to us?” The doctor had no real answers - and neither did our pastor. He just came to try and comfort us in our uncontrollable sobbing, but I remember saying over and over, “My daughter, my beautiful precious daughter. If only I had died instead of you!” But that wasn’t the case, and we had to somehow go on with those unanswered questions and thoughts. What I know more clearly now though is that God is so good and loving, infinitely more so than we are, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children. In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” God will not refuse anyone entrance into His kingdom except those who refuse Him. Someone asked me, “Why does God allow children to die young? And why does He allow horrendous acts to take place against them?” Do I now have an answer for them? Indeed, I do. He allows their death in His great mercy because death for those who are His is but a closing of their eyes on this earth and an opening of them in heaven a millisecond later - a place where there is no more sorrow or abuse
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or torture or murder or sin, but only infinite love. That’s merciful. God is more grieved at sin than we, sinful people, could ever be or know. As a result of the evil and wickedness of the whole world, Genesis 6:6 says, “The Lord was grieved that He made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.” He wiped out everyone in the whole world except for one family. He could do the same today. He could get rid of every abuser and every sinner,
Assistant community librarian Diane Green leads storytime at the Peachland library branch. The storytime program is open to children between the ages of two and five, along with their caregivers. The program includes stories, rhymes, and fingerplays used to develop the childrens’ literacy skills and help prepare them for school. It is a free drop-in program. Constance Roth photo
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Peachland United Church Sunday March 11th, 2012
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Lyn Stewart 250-767-6211 or John Miller 250-767-9270
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but then where would that leave all of us who are guilty of sin to one degree or another? There is coming a day though when sin will be wiped out completely, but not until every person to the end of time has an opportunity to come to God and find out just how loving and merciful He is! Jesus died for us and instead of us, so that we don’t have to die eternally. All that we have to do is believe and trust in Him. I hope that includes you.
Sunday Evening 6:30 - 7:30 PM Office Hours - Tue, Wed, Thur 9:30 am - 2:00 pm Hall rental contact Doreen 250-767-2132 Sunday Morning Service 10:00 am Rev. Elaine Diggle
Pastor John Rankin Join us for: Good Music Bible Messages - Great Fellowhip
www.peachlandbaptist.com 4204 Lake Avenue
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