MESSAGES
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"
- (Matthew 5:4) -
Someone once shared with me the 3 Rules of Warfare. Rule #1—men and women will die. Rule #2—You can't change rule #1. Rule #3—Someone has to walk the point. These rules apply not only to those in the military, but to those in law enforcement and the fire service as well. You men and women walk the point each and every day, as you work to protect the citizens of your community.
Recently, in the city of Riverside, Rule #1 took place as we suffered a horrible tragedy. Riverside Police Detective Doug Jacobs was shot and killed in the line of duty on Saturday January 13th. Doug and his wife, Tammy, attended our Shield of Faith meetings, and we are all still mourning the loss of this loving husband, wonderful father, remarkable son, outstanding police officer, and great friend.
Sadly, when something like this occurs, most citizens will read about it, but they don't grieve about it. To them, the death of a police officer or firefighter is simply something to stimulate conversation over their lunchtime at work. Other than that, their lives are not changed at all.
But for family, and friends, and fellow police officers, your lives, as you once knew it, will never be the same again. Your emotions are going to run rampant at times. You might feel as if you're all alone in some deep and dark cave constantly struggling with your pain and grief. You wonder if you will survive such a horrible tragedy. I want you to know that you will, as you continue to focus on and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and allow Him to be your strength.
Harvest Christian Fellowship had the privilege of being involved with Doug's Coronation Service. Notice that I said Coronation Service, and not simply funeral service. Why? Because Doug was a born again Christian. He had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And though he died a tragic death, he lives a blessed life in the presence of his Lord and Savior.
As Christians, we look at Doug's death as a bittersweet moment. Bitter because he is no longer with us, but sweet because he is now in the presence of God. Even with this said, we still continue to mourn and cry over his death, because we're not ready to let him go. But God understands our pain, and He sympathizes with each of us.
As we completed the Committal Service at the cemetery, I began to observe many police officers hugging one another and crying. Tears of both men and woman officers slowly, and quietly, began to travel down their cheek, and dropping onto the shoulder of one another.
As I watched these people openly expressing their sorrow, and shedding many a tear, it reminded me of words of David, when he said in Psalms 56:8, "You keep track of all my sorrows, You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book" (New Believers Bible).
God is so concerned with you and I that He sees every one of our tears, gathers them up, and bottles them. When our heart aches, His heart aches. He loves us so very much, and He truly feels our pain.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" (2 Corinthians 1:2-3).
As I watched these officers and firefighters hugging and crying, they didn't appear to say much to one another with their mouths. However, their hugging arms, their tears, and their shoulders for one another to cry on spoke volumes. It was a very touching and beautiful sight to behold.
Let me ask you something. It's wonderful to be able to comfort others, and to be comforted by others at a funeral service. But, are you extending your arms with hugs, your tears, and your shoulder to those who are hurting in other ways? Or have we been lately avoiding such opportunity? Lets never be afraid to make ourselves available to others, because as we do we will be a comfort and blessing to them, and they will be a comfort and blessing to us.
"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
