THE ROCK ON WHICH STONE RESTS

 

About twenty-four hours after being part of a car crash in northwest Colorado, Stone Martin, at age nine, made the transition from time to eternity.  Now, he rests in comfort in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22) with the penitent thief (Luke 23:43) and all the saints of the ages (cf. 2 Pet. 2:9) who await, free of heartaches, trials, and earthly cares, that timeless moment for which all the redeemed live and long.     The Martin family typify so well what faithful Christians everywhere do when faced with a tragedy like this (Tom Holland wrote, many years ago, that few things in life are more tragic than the loss of a child because it is out of the natural order and untimely).  As shock yields to resignation, grief and understandable, though not permanent, despair, this faithful couple and the rest of the family will continue to stand.  Why? How?       Proverbs 10:25 says, "When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation."  Jesus says the righteous dig deep and lay their foundation on the rock (Luke 6:48).  Terrible, tumultuous storms like this can occur, and it shakes violently at one's foundations.  Trivializing or minimizing the hurt and pain felt at such a moment as this is immoral and unthinking!  Yet, this dear family will spiritually survive and their optimistic hope will influence for good because of a promise made by One who referred to Himself as The Rock.  The fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:18) and arose from His grave (Acts 2:29-33) means that dear people like the Martins can take heart from Paul's words and not "sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thes. 4:13).  Yes, they will sorrow in a protracted and penetrating way.  Their lives will not be as they once were.  But, they now live with extra incentive for the realization of that moment when they will enjoy that unending, blissful reunion with saved loved ones and to see, once more, Stone, who will have been at rest upon The Rock of ages!  Neal Pollard

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