Gone Too Soon?

We have been blessed with many grandchildren. Three never lived long enough for us to know them. One, Zeke, was lent to our family by God for nearly 9 years. He, like his three brothers, was healthy and happy. He loved food and Legos! Zeke and his family came to our house for Christmas in December ‘22. We took the boys fishing and Zeke caught two good size snapper. The next week, we all enjoyed a great family camp with games, preaching, laser tag, etc. When our daughter and her family went to another family camp on the South Island, a nurse told Lydia she should get Zeke checked out because his tummy was distended. The doctor thought it was constipation. After several days, a scan was taken and the family was told Zeke had cancer—a rare form called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Sarcoma. The doctors said it was stage 4 and there was nothing they could do. Cameron and Lydia took Zeke home and we flew down to help. Many alternative treatments were tried, but Zeke’s tumors grew. The doctors predicted he only had a couple of months to live. He ended up living six and a half weeks from his diagnosis. It was so hard to see Zeke fade away, but there were many blessings. It was so wonderful that we could be together as a family with Zeke at home. He was never scared. Zeke had a time when he was 6 years old that he realized he was a sinner and he trusted in Jesus Christ as his Savior. At that time, Zeke made the best decision of his life! He made sure he was ready for eternity at that point (not knowing he would face it so soon). Though we certainly didn’t expect Zeke to die shortly before he turned nine, was he GONE TOO SOON? If you ask us as his family, we would certainly say YES! But, if you trust in an Almighty, All-knowing God Who doesn’t make mistakes, then we have to believe that it wasn’t TOO SOON, but the right time for him. Do we understand? Do we like it? No. But we do know we will see him again. How? First, we all have sinned and that separates us from God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Even though Zeke was a sweet, young boy, he had inherited a sin nature, and was under its punishment—which is death and hell. Second, God sent His Son, Jesus, Who died in our place to take our punishment for our sin and offers eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Zeke understood that God loved him with a perfect love and that Jesus dying on the cross paid for his sin and offered him eternal life in Heaven. Third, we have to accept what Christ has done personally. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Zeke accepted Christ as his Saviour when he was six years old. February 26, 2023 Zeke died physically, but spiritually he went to live with his Saviour, Jesus Christ, and his Heavenly Father forever. We all will die one day—are you ready for eternity like Zeke was? None of us know when we’ll die. Don’t put off accepting the greatest gift ever offered—salvation.