Precious in the Sight of the Lord

My cousin, Sharon, married Jim Smith and they spent 29 years in Ecuador as missionaries. They had two delightful children, Zac and Stacey. Stacey ran an orphanage and placement service all by herself in Ecuador for seven years. Zac married Mandy, and they had three children, Lizzy, Luke and Jake. Zac went to seminary and was working in a church in South Carolina when about a year ago he was diagnosed with cancer. Zac fought a valiant battle, but this afternoon at 3:05, EST, he passed away. He was 33.

I didn't know Zac well because we lived in different parts of the world. I do remember he was an energetic child with loving parents. He kept a blog called HELLO?RIGHTON! which I have followed on my blog list. He had a unique sense of humor and always posted very insightful thoughts and ideas. From all accounts by those who knew him better than I, he was a wonderful husband and father.

In February Zac made a video. It has been shown in churches all over the country and has itself been a comfort to many. It is on Youtube under the heading, "Zac's Story." If you haven't seen it yet, please take a moment to view it. It's less than five minutes long, but you will be blessed listening to his testimony.

In the past year and a half, thirteen people that I have known, including my father and grandmother, have gone through the valley of the shadow. One, Jeremy Janz, had been in a semi-comatose state for twelve years. It was a relief to see him go. Another, Jimmy Strickland, had a heart attack while in the pulpit preaching, doing what he had loved to do for the last 60 years. The youngest was our close friend, Gully, who had suffered so severely from cancer that he started hallucinating, but when the end came he raised his arms to the sky and cried out, "Praise the Lord."

Richard Smith was listening to two of his sons reading the Doxology; "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen." As his sons read the Amen, Richard breathed his last.

All thirteen of these friends and relatives were Christians, and all passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord. We haven't heard the details of Zac's passing, but he was so weak I imagine he probably went quietly in his sleep.

Hearts are broken and the family is in sorrow. One cannot help but wonder why. Zac was born two months premature and struggled in an incubator. When my grandfather, his great grandfather, came to see him, Sharon was overwhelmed and began to cry. Gramps took her for a walk and said not to worry. "God has plans for that boy," he said. Indeed He did, and those plans included a ministry through his illness that touched thousands, and then an early home going, but now Zac and Gramps are reunited in heaven. As hard as it is for the family here, there is rejoicing going on across the river.

Perhaps that is why God gave us the tender message in Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." I can think of nothing special to say that would be a comfort to the family, but I don't think there are any better words than the passage just quoted. To know God, and to know that God knows you and has a plan for you is the greatest comfort there is. To know that because of His great love for you, He will carry you safely over to the other side is a great assurance. That doesn't make it easy, but it gives the Christian a peace that others will never know until they put their faith in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

Today we say farewell to Zac Smith in the firm hope that in the providence of a loving God one day we will meet again. Many of you have been praying for Zac. Let me thank you. Let me also ask you to continue to pray for his family.

"God is still God, and God is still good" - Zac Smith.