“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” — Acts 20:24
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Irvin Favre ran off the road after suffering an apparent heart attack or stroke and died on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003. His son was scheduled to play a football game one day later. What would Brett Favre do as he dealt with a flood of emotions? His daddy coached him when he played quarterback in high school. Would he be paralyzed by his emotions and take some time to grieve? Everyone would understand if he did.
But Brett Favre played the game of his life with a heavy heart.
Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns as the Green Bay Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 41-7. The stadium was full and millions of people watched on TV with amazement as Favre played one of the best games of his career. Even though time is needed for expressing grief and healing when we experience loss, this legendary performance is a reminder that we should not stop living during times of sorrow. Our living family and friends still need our presence and attention.
When Jesus went back to Heaven, the disciples looked up in stunned silence. The angels told them to spend several days in prayer but then prepare for the next chapter of their lives. The disciples wanted Jesus to always walk beside them in the flesh, but something better was ahead. “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven'” (Acts 1:10-11).
Since my first wife went to Heaven 12 years ago, I’ve wanted to only cling to her, but I need to continue showing love to my children, grandchildren, mother and others. Plus, I needed to open my heart for the possibility of remarriage, which will happen in October of this year.
More importantly, people still need to hear the Good News of the Gospel. So we should cherish memories, avoid being paralyzed by the past and remember that we live first and foremost to be messengers of Christ. “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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