JEREMY SMITH1984-2012
Jeremy was killed in a motorcycle accident two weeks ago in Atlanta. I wasn't able to go to his funeral service and I'll probably always regret not just hopping on a plane to make it there, to celebrate and honor his life with all those that cherished him. Although I hadn't seen Jeremy in a while his amazing smile, huge heart and infectious spirit are as fresh to me as if we had talked yesterday. Our senior year of high school we won the superlative for "best smile"...I was honored to just be in the picture with him, much less in the same category with someone whose smile would quite literally light up a room. I always loved being around Jeremy; he was full of joy no matter where he was or what he was doing, he was magnetic. He enjoyed life and lived it to it's fullest. My heart aches at the thought that he will never be a husband or a father. He would have dominated both and everyone around him would have loved to be a part of it. My heart breaks for his family and his friends, whose lives will never be the same because he is no longer present in them.
But the Lord is sovereign.
Although I don't understand the loss of such a vibrant and full life, I trust in our righteous and perfect God. It's not my place to understand but to seek peace and hope in knowing that Jeremy was a disciple of Christ, fully believing in our Savior's grace and is resting in His presence right now.
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
Jeremy's death has impacted my life. It has awakened my heart in understanding that this is the only human life we are given and all that matters is how we live it in Christ. In Christ alone. We're not guaranteed a certain amount of time to figure this out, to "get around" to really living our lives as Christ disciples. The time is now. As we are on the brink of Good Friday and Easter I am humbled and overwhelmed by God's grace. That he chose us, sinners deserving only death, to be his children, to save us from an eternity apart from Him.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Romans 3:23-26
Because of His sacrifice and His triumph over sin and death, Jeremy is in His presence for all of eternity. There is no fear in death! I will miss my friend tremendously, but I will see his unforgettable smile again, so will all those whose hope and faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh blessed hope! I will see him, rejoicing in the presence of our great God, and know that I am home too.
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
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Every time I hear this song I think of Jeremy now, in the arms of our Savior, where we all want to be.
In Your arms
is where I want to be
when my world
comes crashing down on me
so hold me close
keep me Yours always
bid me, break me, be my rock
for now and all my days
whom have I
when my heart begins to fail
when sorrow fills the streets
and sounds of death prevail
Jesus is my hope
and I know He stills the wind
so take my very life away
as long as I get Him
my soul longs
for the day I'll see Your face
when sin and death will pass
and tears are wiped away
so let the sky fall down
and earth and cities quake
and I'll say of my God and King
Lord, blessed be Your name
blessed be
blessed be Your name
blessed be Your holy name
© 2010 Mandi Mapes
listen here (the video isn't mine, it's just for the purpose of hearing the song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUY_4LMFQaI
