Faith Through the Journey

Three weeks ago today our family began a very difficult ordeal. Our nephew, Keith Krause, had a catastrophic fall at a construction site. Keith suffered massive internal injuries along with many broken bones, and the family began a 10-day vigil to await the results of each surgery. On a number of occasions, family members were able to communicate with him and felt that he definitely had moments of clarity even during the course of his hovering between consciousness and unconsciousness. Seven days after the fall, doctors met with family members, who were given Keith’s long-term prognosis. The family was encouraged by what they heard and began to have hope that Keith could indeed recover to an extent from his injuries. However, two days later, Keith’s heart stopped, and after 10 minutes of attempting recussitation, the medical personnel were able to restart his heart. However, after those critical minutes of his heart having stopped, the family was summoned again, this time to say their good-byes to Keith before they let him go. It was learned at that time that Keith’s wish was to be an organ donor, something he really wanted to do and was very emphatic about being able to give life to someone else. Keith was kept alive long enough for the medical team to remove his liver, which was to be implanted into a patient  with whom Keith was compatible. After Keith’s final wish was granted, he slipped into eternity on July 12.

To offer platitudes about Keith, saying that he’s in a better place or he lived a full life, is insulting to those who loved him. You don’t “get over” the death of someone you love; it’s not a cold, for goodness’ sake!! Asking God the “why” of this tragedy is to ask Him to explain the universe and eternity to us, and our finite minds can NEVER comprehend God’s ways. Death was NEVER part of God’s plan for the human race. Only when Adam and Eve sinned and brought punishment and the sentence of death on all mankind did death become a terrible reality for every human being. Hell was prepared for Lucifer, or Satan, and the angelic host that followed him in his rebellion against the God of the universe who had created them. However, from the time of the Garden of Eden until the present day, the penalty for sin is still death, and those who do not put their faith in Jesus’ atoning death on the cross to save them from their sins will receive this penalty.

For every living being, physical death is a reality. We live in a fallen world and death is part of that. Because God hates death, He mourns with those who mourn. He cries alongside of us when our hearts are breaking with the pain of separation from those we love. God watched His Son die and truly understands the anguish we feel at the earthly loss of our loved ones. There have been many tears already shed by those who loved Keith, and there will be many more as the people in his life learn to walk without his earthly presence. Watching his three little girls (ages 8 and 6-year-old twins) trying to make sense of the fact that they will not see their daddy’s face again on earth was heartrending. The loss of our45-year-old nephew was full of tremendous sadness, not only for what we have lost, but of all of the experiences we will not share in the years to come.

Where was God? He was right there with Keith, present every minute of this ordeal, upholding the family as they waited, guiding the medical personnel through the many procedures and surgeries that were performed attempting to save Keith’s life. Why did God step aside and allow Keith to enter eternity, when it seemed like he had so much to live for? Trying to find the answers to those questions can make those who loved Keith frustrated, angry and empty, as they try but fail to understand the ways of God. In the Bible, Psalm 139:16 says that all of our days were written and recorded in God’s book before we were even born. While it is not an answer to the “why” of death, we have to trust that these were the days of Keith’s life, written in God’s book before he was ever born. God knew when Keith’s days were complete in His will, and he did not live one day more or less than what God had ordained for him before he ever took his first breath.  

Because we believe that Keith had accepted God’s free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of his sins, it is our belief that Keith is today alive in heaven with Jesus and all of the family who are already there. At Keith’s funeral, the pastor shared the hope we have if we are trusting in Jesus Christ to forgive ALL of our sin, both past and present. Life on earth is fleeting for everyone, and being ready at any moment to meet Jesus face to face is imperative for each one of us.

In the midst of much sadness, there is hope because of Jesus. We will never understand God’s ways or the work of His hands, but we can be completely confident of this truth: God will not allow anything to come into our lives for which He will not equip us, and whatever comes into our lives has first been filtered through God’s loving fingers. While He has not promised a life of ease and freedom from difficulty, He promised never to leave or forsake us. Keith’s earthly presence will be greatly missed by those who love him, but the priceless memories shared by us will keep his memory alive and, hopefully in time, will bring us great comfort.