Do you believe this?

No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. Ecclesiastes 8:8

As many of you know, my father-in-law, Yong Bong Pang, passed away unexpectedly Friday morning in the ER. He was a strong-willed, independent, and capable individual who lived by his plan and had planned the end of his life, including his funeral and burial. No matter how good of a planner we are, that is all we can do -- plan. We have no control over external circumstances that alter our plans. So instead of being buried in Florida, he will be laid to rest in the church where I was ordained, in Montgomery, NY, some 1,200 miles from his original plan. As part of my sermon preparation this week, I had been meditating on Jesus' loving response to Martha in John 11:25-26. This week was another reminder that life is frail and short, and what matters most is our belief in Jesus Christ. 

Dear Church, as we reflect on Jesus' words to Martha today, my prayer is that you believe in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Tomorrow may be too late to respond to Christ. Do you believe this?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” JOHN 11:25-26