During rough seasons of life, as people get older, sickness sets in, energy runs out, people may think, “I’m done. My time has come and gone. It’s over.” I don’t know if my grandfather ever thought anything similar as his young, healthy body grew old and sick. He had given himself to service and ministry. He had followed God with fire and energy all across the United States. He had prayed and seen God’s power. But now he was an old preacher, a retired missionary.
Two years before Papaw died, he had a close call. He was so ill in the hospital that he later told us angels had come to minister to him. I had driven eight hours to tell him a final goodbye. But this was not farewell for when I arrived, Papaw had elastic exercise bands. That old preacher was exercising in his hospital bed and talking of living. He wasn’t done. God wasn’t done. At the time I had no idea why God had spared his life. I had no idea that it was partly for me that God had kept him on earth a while longer.
From the outside, some might think it would have been better if Papaw had died those two years earlier. Some might argue that his life had been lived and there was nothing left for him but heartache and loneliness since Memaw had dementia and he wasn’t able to care for her. And he did have much sorrow.
So why was he still here? I’m sure others like my mom and uncles have their own versions. My mom had many meaningful conversations with him during those last two years. May be that was why.
But my own version is because God needed a couple more years to work and move. I had experienced some heartaches of my own during those two years and needed reassurance. I sat by Papaw’s side the last few days of his life. Many already know the agony of watching a loved one die. There is a strong feeling of helplessness and without Jesus there would be hopelessness as well. But God is faithful, and death has no victory. I felt God’s presence and saw His power as Papaw passed from death to life. I saw miracles. God says we shouldn’t ask for signs, but in his mercy, he showed up for me and never once allowed death to seem victorious. God knew I was weak, and He showed up strong.
Papaw was a preacher. And I would say the greatest sermon he ever preached was during the last hours of his life. He said, “I need no more proof. I’m going to live!” Papaw was meant to live those two more years. He had a purpose and mission on earth until the very end. I haven’t been the same since I saw God’s power through him. I felt like the women leaving Jesus’s empty tomb. “He is Risen!” Papaw and I weren’t able to talk about the miracles here on earth, but one day he and I will talk about them in heaven. All my life I had seen my Papaw sitting on old wooden church pews nodding his head and shouting affirmations. He never could keep quiet when the Spirit was moving. And I know that as the glory of God filled that room and we saw God’s power during those final days of his life, Papaw was inside his tired sick body shouting “Amen!”
“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.” As long as we have breath in our lungs and life in our bodies, we have a purpose and a loving God who will see that it’s fulfilled. He is the author and finisher of our faith!
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
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