I recently lost a good friend and neighbor, Dan Goff, from colon cancer. Dan was a man of great integrity with a strong set of values. He loved others unconditionally, and spent his life uplifting and encouraging others, always willing to volunteer his time and talents.
Dan was a talented musician and music teacher. He delighted residents of local nursing homes and his Kiwanis club members with his ukulele or banjo. He and his wife, Iris played in the local concert band for many years. On the evening before his passing, the concert band gathered on Dan’s front lawn to perform a mini-concert in Dan’s honor, to the great delight of Dan and his neighbors.
I am thankful for the times I was able to chat with Dan as he fought this hideous disease. I was amazed at his attitude during those trying times. He would spend time encouraging others, instead of pitying himself. He worried more about his beloved wife, Iris and daughter, Lisa than his own suffering and pain.
I reminded Dan that God would care for his loved ones after he was gone. We also talked about what would happen to Dan after his death. It was encouraging to me that Dan was absolutely certain, because Jesus Christ died and paid for all of his sins, he would be in Heaven for eternity. He asked if we could have a prayer, during which, he prayed for me!
I have attended many funerals, and have sat beside many friends and family members on their deathbeds. I have comforted people who were filled with fear and dread about the after life. I have told them what the Bible says about life and death. I have witnessed people praying to receive the free gift of eternal life just before they died, and I have witnessed people go to their deaths rejecting Christ’s offer of eternal life.
Dan had no doubt, and what a blessing it was to me to discuss the love of Christ with him only a few days before Dan went to meet Him face-to-face.
I recently read that death is simply a another part of life. As deep and profound as that may sound, I reject that thought, because the Bible tells us that death was never intended as a part of the human experience. We were created to live forever. God had warned Adam and Eve that disobeying his commandment would result in death. Because of their sin, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden, and told by God, in Genesis 3: 19, “…By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Since every human inherited Adam and Eve’s sinful nature, God knew we could never be good enough to earn or deserve eternal life, so He offered up His only Son to come to earth as a man, live a perfect life to be the perfect sacrifice for all sin. When we receive His free gift of eternal life, there is nothing more that we must do.
Death is painful to witness, and the loss of the decedent’s companionship, wit, and friendship bring pain and a void that can last a lifetime. But, for the person who dies trusting in Christ, all of the pain and worry is left behind. 1 Corinthians asks, at the death of a Christian, “Where, O death, is your victory? Here, O death, is your sting?”. We, who believe and trust in Christ have the victory forever. The Lord has given Dan the victory, praise be to God.
Authored By: Jim Jackson