2018-07-13 Reflections from Mike.

Good Morning!

As promised, here is the letter Mike sent to me at his father’s passing.

Scott –

My Dad went into hospice earlier this week and passed away quietly today. He was 87 years old.

I want to thank you and all of the other prayer warriors who have prayed for my Dad over the years. The prayer card you wrote about a while ago was dated January 8, 1997. I would estimate that many righteous people have prayed for my Dad’s salvation hundreds of times. And James 5:16 assures us as: “The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great effect”.

John 3:16 also says: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life”.
During my Dad’s final weeks, he was not open to having an open conversation about matters of faith and Jesus with me. He did talk with my sister a bit and shared that he was OK with Jesus being born and dying but did not believe Jesus rose from the dead.

In the Apostles Creed we are told that Jesus will “come again to judge the living and the dead”. Not me or anyone else have the job of judging, Jesus alone judges.

I find comfort in that:

• Many righteous men and women that prayed for my dad and we know their prayers have great effect.
• My Dad was not a fan of organized religion but in his final weeks of life he did share that he believed Jesus lived and died, but he stopped short of accepting that he was a sinner in need of a savior and that Christ died as a sacrificial lamb for our sins.
• In the 33 years that Jesus walked the face of the earth His mission was about love, mercy and forgiveness.

I am at peace that I did what I could do to disciple my Dad. I appreciate the many righteous men and women that lifted up prayers for my Dad’s salvation. I accept that not all people will go to heaven. With this, I must wait until I get to heaven to see if my Dad is there. Not a nice burden to carry but one I can carry with the help of Jesus and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Blessings,

Mike

Father, thank you for workers like Mike. What great examples you provide for all of us. Amen.

Copyright © 2018 Scott Powers

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