Redeeming the Grave

Soon after Timothy’s plane crash, I received a message on Facebook from someone I didn’t know.

“Hey ma’am. This is ----. I’m one of Tim’s buddies. I can’t believe what happened, and I’m so sorry for you guys. Please give me a call tomorrow at -------. I need to talk to you if you're his mother. Thank you so much."

His profile picture was just some animals in a field, and I was nervous about scammers, but something told me this was safe. We agreed on a day and time as soon as possible when we would both be available for a call. I had been working on Timothy’s obituary and funeral arrangements almost around the clock, but I was glad to take a break to connect with one of his friends. I wanted to meet the people who shared Timothy’s life and hear them tell their stories.

I sat on a step-ladder in the garage to take the call because the house was full of company and I wanted to be able to hear. Tim’s friend explained how he had met Timothy at the airport and was taking flight lessons from him. He told me Timothy’s quirky nickname for him, and I said, “I remember him talking about you! I feel like I know you!” We talked about how special Timothy was, and reminisced about some of the fun adventures and hilarious moments we had shared with “the Timster” as he called himself at times. I think his friend just wanted to talk about Timothy with someone who understood the loss.  

We talked for a long time, but finally, when we both grew quiet, I sighed, “The only way I can live through this is because I know we will be back together soon.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

I cautiously continued, “I’ll see Timothy again in Heaven – not because he was perfect - because he wasn’t! The Bible says ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).”

I paused after every sentence, almost expecting an argument about how he was a good old boy and all good old boys go to Heaven. But all I heard was silence.

“So, we've all sinned, and “the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23),” but the Bible also says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).” And “The blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).”

More silence. At this point, I understood why this call was so important. My stepladder was on Holy Ground. I continued to lovingly walk Timothy’s friend down the Romans Road toward Jesus.

“The Bible says, ‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’  And ‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ I know I will see Timothy again because he trusted Christ as his Savior, and called on the name of the Lord to save him. Have you ever done that? Have you ever asked Jesus to save you?”   

“No, Ma’am, I haven’t,” he quietly answered.

“Would you like to do that tonight?”

“Yes, Ma’am, I would.”

My heart skipped a beat! I thought, “This is it! This is what it’s all about!”  Before we even had the memorial service, Timothy’s life (and death) was already pointing people to Jesus!

When Timothy's friend said “Yes,” he made his decision to accept Christ as his savior. Anything he prayed after that was just icing on the cake!

Thank you, Father, for the privilege of being part of this young man's faith journey! Thank you for "redeeming the grave" with the only thing that matters - eternal souls. I pray there are many more to come. In Jesus' name, Amen

God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: Ps 49:15

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death:  Hosea 13:14

If we live, we live to honor the Lord; and if we die, we die to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8