This morning started like lots of other days. I heard the footsteps of little feet entering my room and then I heard my daughter, Eva, crawl into bed on my wife's side of the bed. My son was soon to follow and he ended up crawling up on my side. It has to be one of my favorite ways to wake up! My wife was the first one out of bed and threw on some coffee. The coffee, full of the Spirit of Christ, raised me from the dead and I entered the land of the living as well. After a hurried morning ritual I took off to work doing some remodeling at a friend's house. Shorty after I arrived, my wife called. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Ellie died this morning...."
Immediately my heart imploded.
All I could say was "Ohhhhh noooo!", as my heart broke for our friends.
I called my dear friend Tano to just let him know I am praying and love him. His daughter Ellie, and my oldest, Acacia, are the same age. Our wives were pregnant at the same time and we both experienced the joy of first time fatherhood in the same season. But, his experience would be much different than mine. For the first 18 months or so we shared much of the same things. We enjoyed playing with our little girls and naps on the couch. But things began to change with Ellie. Tano and Abbey began to notice different things about Ellie's development. Ellie began to shake sometimes and didn't seem to be developing at the same rate as others her age. Ellie had been born with Rett syndrome, a debilitating disease that seems to occur in girls due to it's genetic nature. Due to the way that this disorder affects the nervous system little, precious, Ellie, became a prisoner in her own body. Ellie would never learn to walk or talk. Ellie's mind would continue to grow but her body isn't able to respond. Tano and Abby developed a blink language that seemed to allow Ellie to communicate simple needs but only in a limited way. For 8 years now Tano and Abby have loved, nurtured, and cared for their daughter through some of the most difficult circumstances. Ellie fought for life here on earth for 8 long and grueling years. Not a single day went by without struggle. There was never a morning when Tano or Abs heard the sound of Ellie's little feet on their floor, nor did they ever hear their daughter tell them, "I love you." Our friends never saw their daughter's first steps, or heard her read, nor did they watch her run and play like other children.
BUT..............
Today, everything changed. Ellie is prisoner no more. Her first "I love you" will be to Jesus. Her first steps will be on streets of gold. Her new resurrected body now works perfectly. Ellie no longer sits long hours to watch while others play. She is no longer in constant pain. Ellie will never know struggle again. Her hands can be lifted at any moment to the King of Kings, her voice soars with sounds of praise to the only immortal, wise, God. Ellie's suffering in this present life isn't even worthy to be compared with the glory she shares in now. Her face glows from the radiance of the Father and her feet can dance to the tunes of thousands upon thousands as they sing "Glory, honor, and power!!" And from heaven's vantage point Ellie will declare, along with the others in heaven, "Righteous and true are Your judgments Oh Lord!" All the damage that a fallen world has done to Ellie, is now undone so that she, (and we) might be able to say, "Death is swallowed up in victory! Oh Death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?" And if she could talk to us right now I think she might remind us just what the "gospel" means......
GOOD NEWS!!!!
Where Is Thy Victory?
Heavy hearts, broken groans
Sleepless nights, in sorrowed homes
Feelings rule the rainy night
While He sits silently upon His throne
How could you do this?
Why allow such pain?
You claim a sovereign
And righteous name?
The questions dissipate in the air
While He just sits silently there.
Then comes anger
wielding the sword
" A pound of your flesh
For not keeping your word
You promised it would all work for good
But that's not how it's happening in my neighborhood"
The gavel slams down, as I hand out my judgment
"I find you guilty, of breaking your covenant!
This world is full of sadness and pain
And your only solution is "believe on your name?!"
Away with this soul ache, and away with you
If you have the power
then there's something you could do
"Why settle for a pound?" came the reply
"I've given it all, I came and died.
It was that soul I purchased, the one for which you grieve
It's her I redeemed, it's her I've received
All that I have is now hers to keep
Do you question my love, is this why you thus speak?
Your eyes haven't seen, your ears haven't heard
you can't imagine, you can't put it into words...
There is a place with me here
That's waiting for all
That understand my love and respond to my call
The world you live in is all upside down
I've made a place to turn that around !
When life ends there it's the end of the story
But here we go from glory to greater glory!
You go from birth, into life, then death
The world you live on goes from order to mess.
But this place I've prepared
Won't need to be repaired
It's where all is made right you see
Lay down your sword and come to me
Put down your gavel and give me your pain
I know that you're hurting, just call on my name
I mend the broken, heal the hurting, and give sight to the blind
It's all included in this gospel of mine!"
My lips became silent, what more could be said
by His loving power, He raises the dead!
So even while the torments of death still loom
I can rejoice in the victory found at His empty tomb!
Sleepless nights, in sorrowed homes
Feelings rule the rainy night
While He sits silently upon His throne
How could you do this?
Why allow such pain?
You claim a sovereign
And righteous name?
The questions dissipate in the air
While He just sits silently there.
Then comes anger
wielding the sword
" A pound of your flesh
For not keeping your word
You promised it would all work for good
But that's not how it's happening in my neighborhood"
The gavel slams down, as I hand out my judgment
"I find you guilty, of breaking your covenant!
This world is full of sadness and pain
And your only solution is "believe on your name?!"
Away with this soul ache, and away with you
If you have the power
then there's something you could do
"Why settle for a pound?" came the reply
"I've given it all, I came and died.
It was that soul I purchased, the one for which you grieve
It's her I redeemed, it's her I've received
All that I have is now hers to keep
Do you question my love, is this why you thus speak?
Your eyes haven't seen, your ears haven't heard
you can't imagine, you can't put it into words...
There is a place with me here
That's waiting for all
That understand my love and respond to my call
The world you live in is all upside down
I've made a place to turn that around !
When life ends there it's the end of the story
But here we go from glory to greater glory!
You go from birth, into life, then death
The world you live on goes from order to mess.
But this place I've prepared
Won't need to be repaired
It's where all is made right you see
Lay down your sword and come to me
Put down your gavel and give me your pain
I know that you're hurting, just call on my name
I mend the broken, heal the hurting, and give sight to the blind
It's all included in this gospel of mine!"
My lips became silent, what more could be said
by His loving power, He raises the dead!
So even while the torments of death still loom
I can rejoice in the victory found at His empty tomb!
