This month, on April 19, 2017, was the anniversary of my sister-in-law’s death. It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by. She was only 48 years old when she died.
Tracey had cancer. She was a real trooper during her years of suffering, keeping her emotions in check when they began to drift towards self pity because of all the hard things she had to endure. One of her frequent exclamations was “Only Jesus!”. Jesus was the One she called upon and the one who gave her the strength to carry on that was so evident in her life.
Though Scripture forbids communication with or prayer for those who have died, we can still “hear” Tracey’s voice by remembering the words she said when she was still here with us.
Tracey loved her husband and family immensely. I can attest to that. She once told me that maybe if she was healed of her cancer then her sister would get saved.
But even seeing a miracle does not guarantee salvation or move a person to seek truth. The Bible records the great miracles of Jesus and it also tells us that in spite of those miracles his Word was rejected by many. But there were some who did seek the Lord. Nicodemus, to his eternal benefit, was one such person. More on him later.
I also remember Tracey telling me back in the Spring of 2014 that she felt the Lord tell her to “speak up”. I was thinking that perhaps the Lord wanted her to be more direct in evangelizing our family.
I wrote the following little poem for the one year memorial of Tracey’s death. I believe that this is what she would want said to those she loved so much. The poem is taken from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. Therein we have preserved in Scripture, and for our benefit, what transpired between Jesus and a very religious man named Nicodemus more than 2000 years ago.
BORN AGAIN
Nicodemus was an old man
Who had some questions for the Lord
He saw His mighty miracles
And wanted to know more
*
In the darkness, in the starlight
He made his inquiry
Hoping for some answers
To the signs that he had seen
*
Surprised by the Lord’s answer
He said how can these things be
Be born again at my old age
Nicodemus could not see
*
Yes, Nicodemus had some questions
He, an old man getting closer to the tomb
How could he be born a second time
Again, from his mother’s womb
*
But Jesus was not talking
Of his flesh that soon would die
It was the Holy Spirit
That would give a man new life
*
Except a man be born again
God’s kingdom he cannot see
Except a man be born again
In God’s heaven he will never be
*
Jesus loved Nicodemus
Wanted salvation to bestow
Jesus loved Nicodemus
And He wanted him to know
Cathy White 2017
The necessity of the new birth is a fact of life, a fact of Scripture, whether we believe the words of Jesus or not.
Whether we are born again or not will determine our eternal destiny.
There are many wonderful promises in the Bible, but “tomorrow” is not one of them.
Time is short.
Today is the day of salvation.
So what do I believe Tracey would have me say on her behalf?
If heaven is to be your eternal home … “You must be born again” … and we will see each other again, we will meet again one glorious day.
Oh, what a promise!
1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
