Seventeen years...

Today marks 17 years since Jason and Lindsay went home to be with Jesus.

I don't know what I can say that I haven't already said, but when I think about Jason and Lindsay, I think about their legacy. Their life stories were beautiful! They were kind, compassionate, funny, driven, selfless, humble, adventerous, and so much more... and they each truly had a servant's heart and loved the Lord. Their lives honored Jesus! They intentionally chose to live for Christ, and not for earthly things. Is that something that we can all say? What will our legacy be? How will people remember us? In this day and age, with so much pulling for our attention... distracting us from our faith and trying to draw us into earthly/sinful things... how can we persevere to push all of that distraction aside and live for Christ?

God has an answer:

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
~1 Corinthians 10:13

(Side note: That is a verse that is commonly misinterpreted as God not giving us more than we can handle, but it is in reference to temptation. God sometimes does allow us to go through difficult times that we cannot handle on our own... but we can if we let Him carry us through it.)

It is foolish to try to have one foot in heaven and one foot in the world. We have to choose. We cannot move forward and have a meaningful relationship with Christ if we keep choosing sin. It won't always be easy. In fact, once we make the decision to follow Christ or rededicate ourselves to following Him, satan often goes into overdrive to pull us back into sin. But God is merciful:

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the Truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
~1 John 1:5-9

Therefore, we need to be discerning, and to not listen to those who take God's Word out of context. That is something that is very common in our society. Sin (and the consequences of it) are flippantly dismissed by many who take random Bible verses and change the context to fit their own agenda or societal views. That is dangerous and blasphemous.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
~Galatians 6:7-8 (referencing God's Holy Spirit)

Remember these things:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
~Matthew 7:13-14

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"
~Mark 8:36

So, again... what will your legacy be? What will you be remembered for? Did you live your life in a way that honored Christ, influenced others with your faith, and led to your eternity in heaven? (After all, Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven!) Or did you live your life to worldly/societal standards? It's a lot to think about but it is very important. Jason and Lindsay were not famous and they never strived to be... but they are remembered for the way they loved Jesus and their story stil continues to lead people to Christ and eternal life. I can't think of a legacy more powerful than that! All glory to God!

"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
~John 14:6

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
~John 3:16

Below is a beautiful message from Jason's mom:

I used to automatically know how many years it had been since Jason and Lindsay went home to glory. Now, I have to stop and count. It just reminds me of how quickly time is passing. It will be the 17th anniversary this year. One thing about eternity, there will be no need to stop and count. We will relish in the everlasting joy, and there will be no more countdowns or dreaded days of good-byes. Praise the Lord!

One of my very favorite verses in the Old Testament is Job 19:25-26. "As for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh, I shall see God."

This is one of the oldest prophetic references to the resurrection of Christ, written somewhere around 2100-1900 B.C. Who has suffered more that Job? Yet in the midst of his suffering, Job's cry from his heart, gives each of us a Hope in the resurrected Christ. Job was confident in the goodness and justice of God. If you will put your trust in Christ, as your Savior, Redeemer, Friend and Lord, you will have that same Hope for eternity. Jason and Lindsay lived their lives to proclaim that message in youth camps across the country. That was their passion. They were role models for all of us in the sharing of their faith. Someday, we will be with them again, praising our Savior.

"The greatest joy in heaven will be uniting with Christ. The next greatest joy will be uniting with loved ones who have died. The certainty of the ultimate reunion is so sweet, that it makes the parting bearable." ~Randy Alcorn, Your Passport to Heaven

We Love and Miss You Jason and Lindsay,
Mom