The Passing of a Dear Christian Friend

I received an ushering from the Holy Spirit to check up on a dear friend that I had not spoken to in person since college. Her name was Janine Killough. God would have me pray for her on different occasions but I didn't know why. When I looked her name up on the Internet I found to my regret that she had recently died from cancer just a few days before. I didn't even know she had cancer.

(If you lack faith in God I want you to ask yourself what are the chances of me finding out of my dear friend's death just days after she had passed away? They are humanly impossible but God knew of our friendship. God knew how her passing would affect me.)

Janine and I met in a sociology course which I was required to take for my minor in communications. When I came into class and saw her the first time, she was sitting in a desk right beside the wall by the door. I took a seat behind her. There was something different about Janine that drew me to her.

Later in the course we became study buddies and shared many laughs. I look back on this time as God ordained. I never had seen Janine before until that year and that quarter and then we started bumping into one another all over campus.

At the time I considered myself Christian because I went to church when I was younger and participated in Christian youth activities such as Young Life but my life style was anything but Christian. No I did not party or do drugs but my god was more of the "salad bar" variety if you get my drift. I chose what I wanted to believe and not wanted to believe about God.

Janine would invite me on occasion to one of the campus Christian group gathers but I always had an excuse for not attending. I would sometimes pass by the group as I went through the SUB, the student union building, in the evening and they would all be singing and praising God and there Janine would be too.

So what does a person get from a Christian's life after they have gone? What do I get from Janine's life and passing?

1. No matter our circumstances in life- no matter cancer, sickness, loss, sorrow, health, persecution, oppression, death, life - God really loves us and is there for us.

2. God uses things like cancer to not just touch others around us but us as well. Through life threatening circumstances we draw close to God. We see how fragile this life is and we need God for our strength. (That shouldn't just be when we have a life threatening circumstance but all the time.) Janine grew a strong intimate relationship with the LORD and because of that intimate relationship with the LORD she was a light and testimony of God's love.

3. Janine's strong conviction and faith in God/ Jesus Christ encouraged and made her a beacon of light. She said she would not take back this experience because it engulfed her in Christ's love. She realized the reality of God's love for her.

4. Janine was a vessel. She knew she was a vessel and she knew her life was in God's hands. We are like seeds that grow mature and die to glorify Jesus Christ. In her suffering and intimate relationship with the LORD she could not help but glorify the LORD. Her hope and passion for the LORD was not just a confidence and expectation but she knew personally how much God loved her. She knew God was faithful and unfailing even in death. She had peace when she passed into eternity. Janine was a vessel of God's love. She was not perfect but she was just the perfect vessel to be a light to many people's life - including mine.

5. This life is short compared to eternity. If we have to suffer for a while so be it-as long as God is with me. Even when there is disharmony in our body there isn't with our soul for we are connected spiritually with God not our bodies or circumstances.

6. Tell the truth no matter the circumstances but speak it in love. We are but dew on the morning grass. This is not our home. We know where we are going but do others know where they are going if they don't know Jesus Christ?

7. We are sometimes blind to God's love until God shows us all the many blessings bestowed upon us through different circumstances.

8. This life is temporary so let us not live it as if we have tomorrow because none of us has that guarantee or assurance. Let us live in true genuine love, hope and faith of Jesus Christ. Let's see how faithful and unfailing he is in all circumstances.

I thank God for Janine and I know those who know and love her and have a trust and confidence in Jesus Christ will see and be reunited with her again. I am personally excited that I will be able to see her again.

When a Christian dies we have a tendency to feel sorry for ourselves because we won't see that person for a time but in all reality that is selfish. Who was should really feel bad and great sorrow for- are those who didn't give their lives to Jesus Christ. Would I had loved to see Janine again? Of course yes! - But that be only for selfish reasons. Janine is not suffering anymore. She is in the presence of the LORD that loves her. Janine is alive and well in Jesus Christ so let her life (a seed) go into our hearts and let her memory bear much fruit in us for Jesus Christ. Let us honor those Christians who have passed on before us not by feeling sorry but being thankful to have the opportunity to have them in our life- even if it was for a short while.

Janine's life has touched mine- and I know she has and will continue to touch many other people's life by the relationship she had with the LORD down here on earth. You cannot help but shine if you have an intimate relationship with the LORD and grow in that true genuine truth and reality that God is faithful and unfailing.

"You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope." Psalm 119:114

"He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:6

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38 "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them." 1 John 4:16 "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:16-18

I hope that these words haven't just been some words on a page but that you might see and understand the important significance of Jesus Christ in our lives.

You can see her honest, true and beautiful testimony at this address: http://vimeo.com/28829301