Tribute to Kevin
Sunday, April 01, 2007
This past Friday was the 8-year anniversary of my friend Kevin's death. Kevin Jay Lucas died on March 30, 1999 after a 3-year battle with Ewing's Sarcoma. He was someone who was always full of life and vitality. Throughout his physical struggles, Kevin clung to God (and God held tightly onto him). His favorite verse became Philippians 4:13 --- "I can do all things through him who gives me strength." There have been so many times when I have wrestled with my own struggles, and then I think about what Kevin went through and I am humbled...humbled by the seemingly small things that I worry about and the strength that Kevin displayed throughout his confrontation with life and death.This week is Holy Week - a week when Christians specifically remember Christ's life, his death and his resurrection. In the lenten season - the 40 days leading up to Easter (not including Sundays) - we remember Christ's suffering - what he went through so we could have new life. I think to the movie The Passion of the Christ - I remember the images of Christ's face...the grueling pain he endured...the mockery he just took...all because he saw your face and my face - the faces of people around the world...and he poured out and revealed his love through the most unlikely way: the road of suffering.
I can't even begin to say how Kevin has impacted my life. I still think of him frequently and pray for his family. His sister and her family go to my church - about a year ago she had a little boy whose middle name is Kevin. Everytime I look at that little boy, I think about how much fun Kevin would have had playing with his nephew (and his niece as well)...I also see Kevin in him and my heart aches that he will never have the chance to play with his uncle on this side of eternity. Kevin's life and death have been a testimony to me and have become a part of my own testimony. God continues to use his story to impact the lives of others.
It is so ironic to me that some of the most meaningful times in our lives stem from really painful experiences...that, in order to have life, you must endure death...and furthermore, when we are the ones who deserve eternal death, Christ suffered that consequence for us so that we could have eternal life...and because of this, even though Kevin is dead, we have the promise of a living hope that we will one day see him again. Thanks be to God!
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of creation. Oh my soul praise him for he is our health and salvation!
