My Uncle died last year. It’s hard to believe that last year at this time, he was with us.
My Aunt’s brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. He went through chemotherapy and it worked for him. His hair is growing back and he seems to be healthy. My Aunt said that she didn’t think it was fair and my mother agreed.
In my limited understanding, it is not fair that someone who loves his family, works hard, and does his best dies before he ever gets to see his granddaughter. In my limited understanding, it is not fair that someone who uses and deals drugs recovers from chemotherapy and gets to see his family another day. It does not look fair from this angle.
From an eternal perspective, it’s still not fair. My Uncle knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He is basking in the unimaginable glow of God’s presence as we speak. The brother-in-law has a second chance to know the truth and to have the same eternal comfort my Uncle and Grandmother have. Why does he get another chance?
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
Contrary to what some would have you believe, God wants everyone to spend eternity in heaven. God wants all of us to love Him and know Him. But we have to choose Him.
Jesus told a parable (Matthew 20:1-16) about workers in a field. The Master told the workers that at the end of the day they would each receive a coin. All day people were hired to work until the day was over. At the end of the day, the workers who showed up last were given a coin. All the workers no matter how long they worked each received a coin. The workers who had been there since the beginning were mad that they had worked so hard all day and got the same pay as those who showed up later in the day.
It doesn’t matter when you decide to follow Christ. You can follow Him early in life or you can follow Him from your deathbed. Either way, you will spend eternity with God. God wants everyone to come to know Him. He wants all of us to repent from our sin and follow Him. He gives us chance after chance. It’s not fair. We don’t deserve it. And I am so thankful and appreciative that God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15). If He weren’t, I don’t know where I would be.
Polite and (paranoid) 