A Tornado's Aftermath

Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with those families in Oklahoma and Kansas who experienced the ravages of deadly tornadoes this past week.  As one sees the images coming from Moore, Oklahoma, there is a sense that it is a scene from some type of Hollywood disaster movie.  The destruction is almost incomprehensible - homes that have been reduced to a pile of kindling wood.  And yet the testimonies from many of those who survived is an incredible statement of faith and dependence upon God.  As I watched those images of people returning to homes that no longer existed and began sorting through what remained, looking for pictures, for family heirlooms, etc., I wondered how I would respond if suddenly, in a matter of mere moments, God removed everything from my life. 

I was reminded of the story behind a favorite hymn of mine.  It was written in 1903 by an obscure 19th century preacher and carpenter by the name of George A. Young.  He and his wife spent a lifetime humbly serving the Lord in small rural communities, often having barely enough to eat, yet they were often heard to say, "Oh, sometimes we didn't have too much of this world's goods but we always had so much of Jesus."  They were able to scrimp and save to buy a small piece of land on which George built a small cottage and, though small, they dedicated it to God when they moved in, using the Doxology as a signature song.  A few years later, while they were away on a ministry trip, some local thugs who didn't like George's preaching, set fire to the house and it was totally destroyed.  As George gazed at the ruins, he recounted the precious possessions fire could never destroy - his family, his ministry, and his relationship with Jesus Christ.  He then began to compose the words to this hymn:
     "In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads his dear children along;
      where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads his dear children along.

     "Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads his dear children along;
      sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night, God leads his dear children along.

     "Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose, God leads his dear children along;
      through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads his dear children along.

     "Some thro' the waters, some thro' the flood, some thro' the fire, but all thro' the blood;
     some thro' great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long."

A few years later, Dr. Harold Lillenas, one of America's great publishers of gospel music, seeking to track down George's widow, drove to a small Kansas town where he discovered that she was residing in the run-down County Poor House.  He was troubled that the widow of a gifted song-writer should spend her final years in a place like that.  But she said to him, "One day God took my sweet husband home.  Oh, how I missed him for we had always served the Lord together.  In my heart, I wondered - where will God now lead me?  Dr. Lillenas, God led me here!  I'm so glad He did, for you know, about every month someone comes into this place to spend the rest of their days, and, Dr. Lillenas, so many of them don't know my Jesus.  I'm having the time of my life introducing them to Jesus!  Dr. Lillenas, isn't it wonderful how God leads?"

Friends, I would hope that is how I would respond if suddenly everything was gone.  For when the winds died down and the smoke cleared away, there would still be Jesus...and He is more than enough.  And with another great hymn-writer I would sing, "It is well with my soul."  I trust you would do so as well.

Because of the Oklahoma tornadoes and their deadly destruction, our focus has been taken off the scandalous events that are rocking Washington.  Let's see: there is the Benghazi attacks last September 11 that left four Americans murdered; there is the harassing by the IRS of those Tea Party groups that sought to have a non-profit exemption; there was the Department of Justice hacking into the phone records of certain reporters working for the Associated Press.  From just a casual observation, there seems to be a cover-up of truth. 

Friends, cover-ups have been used before.  We have witnessed them in the biblical record.  Probably the most famous cover-up was that of David after his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his leading generals and friends, Uriah the Hittite.  As one reads the account in 2 Samuel 11, there is one action following another culminating in the murder of Uriah.  It was not until David was directly confronted by the Prophet Nathan that David admitted his sins and sought God's forgiveness.  Then there was the story of Achan who, knowing that God had placed all of Jericho - its residents and its property - under a condemnation, nevertheless took some money and some garments and covered up his actions by placing them in a hole under his tent.  His cover-up was exposed and the judgment was swift.  Even Adam and Eve, there in the Garden, after the fall, tried to cover up their sins by blaming someone else for what had happened.  Yet their sins were found out by God and a punishment was meted out upon them.  It is always best to tell the truth because the truth will eventually be made known.  In Washington today, the truth will eventually become evident.  How wise those leaders who will quickly, without cover-up, admit to errors on their part. 

Well this weekend is Memorial Day, a time to celebrate and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we might enjoy freedom, including the freedom to write this blog and to share openly with others opinions and ideas.  So, take a few moments sometime during these next few days to say "thank you" to a Vet.