They Didn't Make It?

Yesterday Joel and I watched, via the internet, the funeral service of Officer Susan Farrell held at a church we have attended with our son and his family in the southern part of our state.  It was packed with officers from Iowa, surrounding states, and a few around the country and from Canada.  Officers honoring one of their sisters in blue. (Her partner who died in the crash will be laid to rest on Friday.)

The chief of police, Dana Wingert, gave a powerful and moving speech.  He began with these words....
"They didn't make it."  The words spoken  to him when he was informed of the horrific crash that killed  two of his officers.  He went on in his talk to speak about officer Farrell and her calling, and addressed her husband, a fellow officer, and the family.   At the end of his talk he brought it back to the words he first spoke...."They didn't make it."  And then he said, "I stand here before you to argue that statement because they did make it and now they reside in God's house.  And they will watch over us the rest of our days.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Later one of Susan and her husband Jesse's friends spoke.  He is a friend, pastor, and police officer who was asked to talk about Susan,  and he also spoke to her husband and little daughter, the love they shared, and how God will continue to be with them.  I loved hearing these respected men in blue speak about our Lord, reading scriptures, praying, declaring faith.  Thank you Jesus.

"They didn't make it?"  No, they did make it......they made it to a life eternal and now reside in Heaven with our Jesus.....

Life is unpredictable at best.  Life is what happens while we are making other plans.  The man who hit them head on while going the wrong direction on the Interstate, was drunk and driving at an estimated 100 mph......  Yes, life is unpredictable, so it is very very important to be right with God....to not put off what God is asking of us......We think we have all the tomorrows before us so we often put off those things we know that we know that we know.  Maybe we need to commit to studying God's Word....to praying more......getting to church........speaking to that someone we have been angry at.  Seek to heal that relationship......lose that weight.......love that neighbor........forgive that person......spend time listening to our Lord.  Say yes to our Papa God at any cost.

God is always waiting to hear from us.  He never turns us away, but waits patiently for us to live the life he has planned for us.   Sometimes life gets in the way of that plan.  Sometimes death.  Bad choices result in bad consequences.  This 25 year old young man made a bad decision that ended innocent lives and his own, and changed the lives of so many others.  Lord have mercy.  Let us not put off listening to God's voice beckoning us to a life filled with His presence here on earth and in Heaven.